US President Joe Biden has issued a federal disaster declaration for Kentucky, paving the way for additional funds for the tornado-hit state.
"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing", the document says.
Federal assistance includes grants for temporary housing and repairs, as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property damage, the White House added. Damage assessments continue and additional forms of assistance could be designated later.
Aftermath of powerful tornadoes that hit Kentucky, US
© Sputnik / Artur Gabdrakhmanov
According to Kentucky's Governor Andy Beshear, one of the tornadoes was on the ground for at least 227 miles (365 kilometres), 200 of which were in Kentucky, and there are whole towns that have been destroyed.
Biden previously stated that the spell of tornadoes which hit the country over the weekend, is probably one of the "largest" to ever take place in US history. Around 30 tornadoes were registered in at least five US states from Arkansas to Kentucky, with the most damage caused in the town of Mayfield, Kentucky, where a candle factory collapsed, resulting in mass casualties.