Emergency Declaration approved for Kentucky in wake of winter storm

As Winter Storm Fern firmly settles into the region at least through Sunday after, President Donald Trump has approved the emergency declaration for the Commonwealth.

According to a news release from FEMA, that approval paves the way for federal disaster assistance to be available for agencies across Kentucky to supplement emergency response efforts in the wake of the winter storm that begin late Friday night and has so far brought several inches of snow to the region.

FEMA will coordinate with local and state agencies, and is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75% federal funding.

All 120 Kentucky counties are included in this declaration. The Winter Storm Warning continues through Sunday afternoon, with meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Paducah calling for more snow and potentially some ice to fall before this system moves out.