Jill Biden to visit Kentucky to see tornado damage

First lady Jill Biden will visit Kentucky on Thursday to accompany state and federal officials as they survey the damage from the tornados that tore through the state last month.

“First Lady Jill Biden and Deputy FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Administrator Erik Hooks will travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky where they will join Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear to survey recovery efforts following the devastation from recent tornadoes,” the White House said in a statement.

“The First Lady will highlight the partnership between federal and local agencies that ensures Kentuckians are receiving the aid and relief they need,” the statement added. 

During her visit, Biden will see neighborhoods damaged by the storms as well as visit a FEMA State Disaster Recovery Center.

The tornado ripped through eight states last month on what is believed to be the deadliest December day of storms in U.S. history, with 90 confirmed deaths.

President Biden traveled to Kentucky shortly after the storm to survey the extensive damage.

“I’m here to listen,” he said after seeing the damage. “There’s no red tornadoes and blue tornadoes.”

Apart from being one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks on record, the twisters may also be among the most expensive.

According to an estimate from AccuWeather, the damage from the storms could total $18 billion, basing the cost off of “all direct and indirect impacts of the tornadoes.”

The president has vowed that the federal government will help Kentucky with 100 percent of the costs relating to the tornado damage.