Biden Amends Kentucky Disaster Declaration After Deadly String of Tornadoes - White House

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden has amended the Kentucky disaster declaration following the devastating tornadoes that ravaged several US states but had the worst impact on Kentucky, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the Commonwealth of Kentucky by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work undertaken in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing," the statement said.

The declaration made available federal funding for emergency work, hazard mitigation and for other immediate needs, the statement also said.

"Under the President's order today, federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a 30-day period from the date of declaration," the statement added.

Biden: US Will Do 'Whatever It Takes' to Rebuild Kentucky After Devastating Tornadoes

Moments after the White announced its amended disaster declaration for the Bluegrass State, Biden held a news conference after surveying the aftermath of the damage, telling reporters that the US would spare no expense in helping Kentuckians.

"I intend to do whatever it takes as long as it takes to support your state, your local leaders, as you recover and rebuild, because you will recover and you will rebuild."

"I just approved a request that I wasn’t sure I had the authority to do, but turns out I do," Biden said on Wednesday. "The government’s going to cover 100% of the cost for the first 30 days for all the emergency work, every single cost, the federal government’s going to take care of."

Biden noted that the tornadoes, which hit several states including Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, have caused at least 74 deaths.

On Friday and Saturday, a series of tornadoes swept through the central and southern parts of the United States, leaving behind a trail of destruction and casualties. Biden approved the disaster declaration for Kentucky on Saturday and ordered federal assistance for the state as the tornadoes killed more than 70 people.