Governor Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency in the wake of severe storms that swept through Kentucky Monday.
Rowan and Johnson counties in Eastern Kentucky were hit especially hard by the storms, with one fatality reported in Johnson County and several people reported missing.
The declaration gives local communities immediate access to state and federal resources to assist in recovery efforts.
The governor has requested assistance from FEMA, and the Kentucky National Guard and the state’s Division of Emergency Management are already helping in the efforts. Shelters have been set up in Johnson, Jefferson and Rowan counties.