PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Governor Steve Beshear’s office has informed Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford that President Barack Obama has finally declared a federal disaster in Pike County. Pres. Obama made the declaration Friday afternoon.

Numerous portions of Pike County were devastated by storms and subsequent flash flooding which occurred the weekend of May 8. Since that time, the Pike County Office of Emergency Management, the Kentucky National Guard, the Big Sandy Area Red Cross and other agencies have been working around the clock to generate disaster assessments and to bring relief to flood-devastated individuals and families.

According to reports from the Pike County Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 84 homes in Pike County were completely destroyed, 204 homes received major damages, and 357 homes received minor damages. Flooding damaged two Pike County water systems, 139 roads, 78 bridges, blocked 22 roads completely, and destroyed 61 bridges.

The federal disaster declaration will allow citizens, businesses and the state and county government to receive FEMA assistance. The assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other recovery assistance.