Relief

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Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation

The Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation is accepting donations to help those Kentuckians affected by natural disasters and other hardships. Any individual or organization wishing to contribute should send a check payable to Kentucky REALTOR® Relief Foundation to KYR at 2708 Old Rosebud Road, Lexington, KY 40509. Call 859-263-7377 with any questions you may have.

 

Eastern Kentucky Flooding Relief (July 2022)

Donations to the Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation are made directly to those affected by natural disasters in Kentucky. To make a donation to KRRF or complete an application for mortgage/rental assistance,  please visit kyrrelief.com. 

Flood Recovery

Tips for Safely Using Pumps When Cleaning Up
Courtesy of OPEI

If you have experienced flooding, you know that a water pump is an important part of the clean-up process, helping move gallons of water quickly and efficiently to dry out flooded basements and assist contractors on job sites.

“These pumps are powerful and can speed up a cleanup job after a flood,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers."

With summer storm season upon us, OPEI offers these safety reminders.

Get the right pump for the job. It’s important to use the right pump for the water and debris that you are trying to clear. There are four basic types of pumps: A dewatering pump sucks in water through an inlet valve and ejects it from a discharge valve. They have an inlet size ranging in size from 1 to 4 inches. A 4-inch dewatering pump will finish a job 4 times faster than a 1-inch pump. A semi-trash pump is used to pump clear or slightly muddy and sandy water. You will want to use a hose with a strainer so the hose doesn’t get clogged with items too big to pass through. A trash pump is made to handle debris and solids, such as leaves, pebbles and twigs. These pumps have larger impellers and leave debris intact. Use a hose with a strainer for a trash pump, so items that are too large don’t enter. Diaphragm pumps are most commonly used to pump sludge and extremely abrasive liquids. The pump has a diaphragm which is pushed up and down, creating a vacuum effect that draws in water.

 

Maintain a pump with inspections and proper fueling. Regular inspection and maintenance will make your pump last longer. Always fuel any gasoline-powered pump with E10 or less. It is illegal to use gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol in a small engine like your pump, and higher ethanol blended fuels may damage or destroy small engine equipment. For more information on safe fueling, go to LookBeforeYouPump.com. 

Store your pump safely. Remember to flush the pump case with clean fresh water, then completely drain to prevent damage from freezing. Cover the intake and discharge ports to prevent the entry of debris during storage.

Know how to operate the pump. Review the manual and manufacturer’s directions, following them carefully.

Follow safety procedures. Make sure all safety guards and shields are in place while operating your water pump. Never use a pump in a flammable or explosive environment.  Never pump substances that your pump isn't designed to cope with. Acids, corrosive substances and flammable materials should not be pumped with an ordinary water pump. If in doubt, refrain from pumping.

Don’t run gasoline-fueled engine indoors. If you must use the pump indoors, ventilate the area to the outside and seal it off from the rest of the building. Never leave any pump in a confined space where heat can build up. Keep the pump at least 3 feet away from walls and other obstructions so it can ventilate. If a pump becomes overheated, switch it off and allow it to return to a safe temperature before using again.

About OPEI
OPEI is an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI owns Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition, and administers the TurfMutt Foundation, which directs the environmental education program, TurfMutt. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces.

 

Governor Andy Beshear's Twitter

Governor Andy Besehar's Youtube

National Weather Service - Jackson, KY Twitter Feed

City of Hazard, KY Official Twitter

City of Hazard, KY Official Facebook

Kentucky National Guard Twitter 

Kentucky National Guard Facebook

Kentucky State Police Post 13 - If you are looking for someone who is missing in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher or Perry counties, please call KSP Post 13 at 606-435-6069. Per Governor Beshear, DO NOT call 911 to report missing persons, and keep calling the KSP line as KSP is experiencing many calls at this time.

American Red Cross Eastern Kentucky Chapter - A flood response shelter has been opened in Hazard, the office can be reached at 606-629-3344

 

Western KY Tornado Relief (Dec. 2021)

Kentucky REALTORS® is proud to be working with the REALTOR® Relief Fund at the National Association of REALTORS® to make $1.5 million in Disaster Relief Assistance available to residents of Kentucky that were affected by the storms/tornadoes in December 2021. 

Click to view RRF video

Please fill out the relief application form and return it (along with the requested documents) to Kentucky REALTORS® (kyrealtors@kyrealtors.com) to be considered for assistance. The recipient must be a full-time KY resident and U.S. citizen or legally admitted for residence in the United States.

Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options:

1) Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the Disaster OR;

2) Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Disaster OR;

3) Reimbursement of PAID hotel expenses due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Tornado Disaster. 

Relief assistance is limited to three months of housing expenses or reimbursement up to a maximum of $3,000 per household. Further details are available on the application itself which can be downloaded at the link below. PLEASE, review the application for the required documentation and supply all of the required information at the time of submission. If you do not, it will SIGNIFICANTLY increase the time it takes to process your application and disburse funds.

Download the Dec. 2021 Tornado Relief Application Here

Any inquiries may be addressed to Kentucky REALTORS® at 859-263-7377 or by email at kyrealtors@kyrealtors.com.

Please note this assistance is for housing relief only; other expenses including second mortgages, vehicle purchase, rental, repair, and or mileage are ineligible for reimbursement under this program. Also, 

 

How to Help Individual Communities

 

Important Resources for Those Impacted