Kentucky Flood Victims Can Get Resources, Tips from AARP, State, FEMA

As residents in Kentucky work to recover from the floods that swept the area in February, AARP Kentucky is offering both help and warnings.

Reconstruction is already underway after the deluges that killed 24 people and caused damage that is still being totaled. But plenty of assistance is available to those who need it, according to Gary Adkins, the volunteer state president of AARP Kentucky.

The organization has posted links on its website to agencies that are helping with flood relief, including the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the governor’s office.

“It’s just been devastating,” says Adkins, who has family in the affected area. “The amount of flooding is just horrendous.”

The federal government has declared 14 counties to be disaster areas, making residents eligible for individual assistance: Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Simpson. Cleaning and sanitizing grants are available, up to a maximum of $43,600.

Residents who need help with temporary shelter, home repairs, money for rebuilding or other services can start with the FEMA site at disasterassistance.gov. People who want to start by talking to a person can visit disaster recovery centers that offer one-stop shopping for state and federal help and are now operating in eight of the hardest-hit counties. The sites can also help residents trying to replace lost documents or who have flood-related legal problems.

For people who have lost their place to live, it can be devastating, Adkins says. “Many times, they’ve lost their vehicles, their homes, everything they have…. There are no easy solutions.”

AARP Kentucky is working to spread the word about available resources — and to get people connected to them, he says.

Beyond that, AARP is warning older adults to be aware of fraud that often follows natural disasters.

“Any of these disasters open the door for scammers to come in,” Adkins says. Some try to defraud people who want to donate to relief efforts, while others run home-repair scams, taking money or personal information and giving nothing in return.

Anyone solicited for flood relief donations should make sure an institution is a legitimate charity. Many organizations offer information on charities, including the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, GuideStar or the IRS.

Similarly, homeowners who are desperate for assistance should investigate any contractors who approach them with offers of work.

To keep up to date on fraud, both related to flood recovery and otherwise, you can receive updates from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, or call its helpline at 877-908-3360.

—David Lewellen