The president ordered federal public assistance funding for 51 counties and individual assistance in 15 counties.

"I'm very pleased the president has approved this well deserved federal aid for the citizens of the commonwealth," Gov. Paul Patton said in a release.

Individual assistance goes to residents and business owners whose homes or property were damaged in the storm. Meanwhile, public assistance is earmarked to help pay for the cost of damaged roads, buildings and utilities and also to help pay for removing the debris, according to the release.

Patton wrote the president earlier this month asking for a declaration that would make the state eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency money.

Most of the state was hit February 15 with snow and ice that caused state highways and interstates to close. The storm left more than 175,000 customers without power. Some residents without electricity or heat were forced into shelters and as the storm continued that weekend.

Fifty-five of the state's 120 counties declared emergencies following the storm. In his letter to the president, Patton estimated the damages would cost more than $40 million.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

The US Small Business Administration will also be available to cover residential and business losses not covered by insurance.

Lewis County has also been approved to conduct a sign-up for the Emergency Conservation Program due to the storm. Eligible practices include debris removal from farmland and building or repairing fence due to damage from the ice storm.

Producers should have some idea of the extent to the damage when completing an application. Producers must file an application before starting any debris removal or repairs in order to be eligible for cost-share assistance.

Meeting in regular session last week the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg and its employees were given a photo display of the damage to the power structures and electric lines in the area from the ice storm.

Bob Brown from W.M. Lewis and Associates Consulting Engineers in Protsmouth, Ohio, presented the series of photos using a telephone and digital technology. The pictures showed the devastating effects of the ice. One close up of a chunk of ice next to a ruler showed that it was three inches thick.

Across the region, poles, electric lines and structures were damaged or destroyed. The towers of WPAY Radio were shown on the ground.

Kennedy also said that the recent improvements to the company's system paid off. When the power was turned back on everything worked perfectly.

Damage estimates are in flux but currently Grayson Electric says that the damage in their service area comes to about $4 million. Fleming Mason Energy reports about $2.5 million.

Kennedy said that in Lewis County the current estimate totals $600,000. He added that workers are finding new problems every day so that cost figure will go higher. He reported that the six-day outage cost the company $20,000 revenue.

Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Fiscal Court moved to go ahead with the Garrison Sewer Project. That issue was table at last month's meeting in order to give the Garrison Water District Board time to take official action on the matter.

Karen Collier reported that the Water District Board voted unanimously to go forward with the sewer project.

The court immediately entered into a contract with Haworth, Meyer & Boleyn Professional Engineers Inc., Frankfort, and to accept the recommended payment schedule so the project can continue.

Vanceburg Mayor William T. Cooper appeared before the court to ask for its support of a lake project for the community. He presented an aerial map of the city to show the proposed location of the 100-acre lake. It would cover swampland that is unusable for farming or commerce. The court moved to send letters to all the legislators in Frankfort and Washington that serve Lewis County to ask for their help in raising the funds for the feasibility study.

Mayor William T. Cooper shows an aerial photo of a proposed lake to the Fiscal Court on March 10. From left to right, Carl Chaney and Mayor Cooper.

The court also voted to continue the County Road Aid Agreement with the Kentucky Department of Transportation. Annually, three percent of the county's road funds are contributed to the aid fund to help counties that encounter emergency situations in that calendar year.