Each weather-related crisis brings with it new questions about relief and funding.
Right now, Beshear's first ask is that the GOP-led General Assembly roll back a recent change it made, putting a ceiling on emergency dollars spent without additional legislative approval.
"In the last budget, they put a cap on the amount that we could spend responding to a natural disaster. We're there," Beshear said. "And ultimately, we're gonna need that that cap undone. We warned during the session that you can't stop responding in a natural disaster."
But Republicans have argued the cap was a necessary check on spending and pointed to language they said could open up an extra $50 million annually if a presidential disaster declaration was granted.
In this case, President Trump has approved that declaration.
Beshear is also urging the legislature to help in launching a SAFE fund, mirroring the ones created for the major tornado and flooding disasters bookending the state in recent years. The dollars help local governments meet sizable contributions they must put forward to earn matching federal dollars.
As for a total amount the governor might seek from the General Assembly to deal with the floods, he's stopping short of announcing a set number — citing ongoing talks with lawmakers about where they might find the money.
