Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear Announces $30,000 Donation from Taiwan for Recent Tornado Relief

Funds are humanitarian gift to help communities recover from recent storms

FRANKFORT, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear today announced a $30,000 donation from the government of Taiwan to help communities recover from recent tornado and storms in numerous Kentucky counties. The gift will be donated to the Kentucky Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster or KyVOAD to assist in its disaster relief efforts in Kentucky. 

“I am pleased to receive this token of esteem from the Taiwanese government to help with restoration efforts after recent devastating storms that hit many areas of the Commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said. “The generosity they have shown in our time of need will help our local communities repair the effects of this natural disaster.”

During the announcement, the Governor was joined by representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office located in Atlanta.  
“On behalf of the government of the Republic of China, my colleagues and I of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta would like to express our deepest sympathy for the recent human and property devastation caused by tornadoes in your great state,” said Anna A. Kao, director general of the office. “In the spirit of friendship exemplified by the mutually beneficial 30-year sister state relationship between Kentucky and Taiwan, we would like to contribute $30,000 for relief and restoration efforts.” 

Deadly storms and tornadoes tore through Kentucky on Feb. 29 and March 2. Twenty-four Kentuckians lost their lives and hundreds of homes were destroyed by the storms. Gov. Beshear quickly declared a state of emergency, and teams from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) remain in Kentucky to coordinate relief with local officials.

“Your leadership in this crisis has helped put Kentucky back on the path to speedy recovery,” Kao said of Gov. Beshear. “As I mentioned when we met last June after similar natural catastrophes, we hope our contributions can help to ameliorate the effects of these recent disasters.”

Taiwanese officials donated $20,000 in June to Gov. Beshear and the American Red Cross Chapter in Louisville after severe storms hit Kentucky in late April and early May 2011, causing widespread damage and flooding in more than half the state’s counties. 

Jim Garrett, volunteer services coordinator for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and VOAD liaison, accepted the $30,000 gift on behalf of KyVOAD.

“Now that Kentuckians are focused on rebuilding homes and communities after the devastating storms and tornadoes, we are grateful for this gift that will help us in our recovery,” Garrett said. “VOAD member organizations are working in communities throughout the Commonwealth, helping to organize local Long Term Recovery Groups who will be there until families are restored to a state of well-being. This gift will help us see that the communities have the resources they need to complete their recovery efforts."

 
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