When asked why he hadn't requested a disaster declaration from the White House, Beshear told WHAS 11 News on Wednesday, Sept. 24th that he wanted FEMA to complete its damage assessments in Kentucky before he'd write a personal letter asking for an official disaster declaration. The director of Kentucky's Emergency Management agency, John Heltzel, has sent a letter to FEMA on behalf of Gov. Beshear, requesting those damage assessments. Beshear's spokesman, Jay Blanton, says that's the proper procedure to follow in seeking federal help. He may be right. But why say the governor has submitted a request for a presidential disaster declaration when he hasn't?

Congressman John Yarmuth and Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning have written letters to the White House, demanding a quick response from the federal government in providing assistance to Kentucky folks hit by the storms. But as McConnell and Bunning pointed out in their letter, only the governor can request a disaster declaration. On Thursday, FEMA responded to Kentucky's senators. A letter from FEMA Legislative Liaison Pamela Williams told McConnell and Bunning "at this time, FEMA's Region IV office has not received a request for additional federal assistance from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In the event that this status changes, we will notify your office of any developments."

Indiana's governor, Mitch Daniels, sent a letter requesting a federal disaster declaration immediately after the aftermath of the hurricane damaged the Hoosier state two weekends ago. FEMA teams had set up shop across Indiana today to begin taking applications from people and businesses who think they're eligible for federal assistance.
Beshear's spokesman says expects the same thing to happen in Kentucky after FEMA completes it's damage assessments in the Bluegrass State.