HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Kentucky Tornado Survivors

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for areas in Kentucky affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing.

A major disaster declaration has been issued for the counties of Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren.

Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren. 

Effective immediately, HUD is:

• Providing immediate foreclosure relief in counties covered by the major disaster declaration – HUD's automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages commenced on the date of the Presidential major disaster declaration, and foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. For assistance, call your loan servicer or FHA's Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320.
• Making mortgage insurance available – HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary and they are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs.
• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation – HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home.
• Sharing information on housing providers and HUD programs – The Department will share information with FEMA and the Commonwealth on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the Commonwealth to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

HUD provides a variety of disaster resources. The agency also partners with other federal and state agencies to help implement disaster recovery assistance.