Kentuckians in 13 counties impacted by April’s devastating flooding, landslides, tornadoes, and mudslides are now eligible for critical food and unemployment assistance.
This follows a major disaster declaration by President Donald J. Trump on April 25, in response to the catastrophic storms that began on April 2.
On May 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Kentucky’s request to offer Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits to affected residents. The program provides temporary food help to those in federally declared disaster areas. D-SNAP applications will be accepted May 7–14, excluding Sunday, May 11.
Eligible counties include: Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen, and Woodford.
To apply for D-SNAP:
Call 855-306-8959, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EDT).
Or visit your local Department for Community-Based Services (DCBS) office from Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A full list of county office addresses is available at Kentucky’s DCBS website.
SNAP recipients in affected counties may also buy hot, prepared food at authorized retailers through May 31, 2025. Anyone whose food was lost due to power outages or storm damage may request replacement benefits.
Governor Andy Beshear praised the federal support, saying, “It’s comforting to know storm victims can access these crucial benefits that will help their families recover and rebuild.”
In addition to food assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available for individuals who lost jobs or income due to the storms. DUA supports both workers and self-employed individuals—like farmers or contractors—who don’t qualify for standard unemployment.
To be eligible for DUA, applicants must:
+ Have lost work or been unable to reach their job because of storm-related damage or closures.
+ Be injured or newly responsible for a household due to the disaster.
+ Show their work or self-employment was their main income source.
Required documentation includes proof of income, a photo ID, and evidence of residence at the time of the disaster. Applications must be filed by June 23, and documents must be submitted within 21 days of filing. DUA benefits are available for up to 29 weeks, from April 6 to October 25.
To apply for DUA: Visit kcc.ky.gov or call 502-564-2900.
Gov. Beshear is also urging FEMA to extend aid to 16 more counties for Individual Assistance and to 64 counties for Public Assistance, as damage assessments continue.
Kentuckians are reminded to document storm damage before cleanup, report it to local emergency management, and beware of price gouging, as state consumer protections remain in effect.
