Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Harold "Hal" Rogers has urged federal agencies to expedite their response to the recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky. The congressman, who represents Kentucky's 5th district and serves as Dean of the House, engaged with leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Louisville and Huntington Districts. The discussions focused on improving federal flood relief and control efforts in the region.
"It has been less than three years since the last catastrophic flood ravaged our region in July 2022, causing widespread damage and multiple fatalities," said Congressman Rogers. He emphasized that previous disasters revealed areas needing improvement, particularly concerning bureaucratic delays hampering relief efforts.
In his role as Dean of the House and part of the Kentucky Federal Delegation, Rogers spearheaded a joint letter to President Trump supporting Governor Andy Beshear's request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration. This follows President Trump's quick approval of an Emergency Disaster Declaration on Sunday, which aims to facilitate federal assistance for affected counties.
"I specifically requested mobile centers for FEMA to reach more people as quickly as possible," added Congressman Rogers. He also addressed past issues where survivors faced challenges accessing funds for repairs and replacements due to funding offsets.
During his tenure, Congressman Rogers has secured over $800 million in federal funding for flood control projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in southern and eastern Kentucky. "We've seen the life-saving value of effective Army Corps projects along the Cumberland River, the Big Sandy and Tug Fork," he noted.
Rogers stressed the need for quicker removal of debris and sediment from waterways and urged completion of ongoing flood control projects in Coal Run, Town of Martin, Paintsville, Beattyville, and along the Kentucky River. "These investments are crucial, but project delays have proven to be detrimental with three back-to-back flooding events in the last five years."
For further details on Congressman Rogers' initiatives both nationally and within Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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