FEMA Says Some KY Disaster Survivors Could Get Free Legal Aid

In May of 2024, severe weather struck a number of Kentucky counties, and now FEMA says those residents could get free legal aid from the American Bar Association.

Previously, the services were available to those eligible after severe weather that occurred on April 2, 2024. Those initial counties included:

• Boyd
• Carter
• Fayette
• Greenup
• Henry
• Jefferson
• Jessamine
• Mason
• Oldham
• Union
• Whitley

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FEMA now says those services have been extended to those impacted by severe weather, including storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides, and mudslides that occurred May 21 - 27, 2024. Those counties include:

• Butler
• Caldwell
• Calloway
• Christian
• Clay
• Greenup
• Hopkins
• Knox
• Logan
• Muhlenberg
• Simpson
• Todd
• Trigg
• Warren
• Whitley

Residents in those counties may be able to take advantage of FEMA-funded legal assistance and can call the hotline at 859-993-0300. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 12 noon and 1 pm - 4:30 pm Eastern time. Outside of business hours, disaster survivors can leave a message, with calls being returned as soon as the next business day.

The free legal assistance can help disaster survivors in a number of ways, including:

• FEMA and SBA financial benefits;
• Home repair contracts and property insurance claims;
• Re-doing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;
• Price gouging, scams or identity theft;
• Landlord or tenant problems, or threats of foreclosure; and
• Disability-related access to federal, state and local disaster programs.

It is worth noting that the legal services offered will not provide assistance with writing FEMA appeal letters.

How Does the Disaster Legal Services Program Work

The Disaster Legal Services program partners state and local agencies like the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, FEMA, and others to provide free legal assistance to disaster survivors who are low-income and cannot afford to hire an attorney on their own.

Additionally, businesses, homeowners, renters, and non-profits are eligible to apply for long-term, low-interest disaster loans through the US Small Business Administration to help offset the losses that may not be full covered by insurance. To take advantage of this program, you can apply online by visiting sba.gov/disaster.