FEMA denial of flood-related reimbursement could cost Letcher County schools $3 million
By John McGary
August 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM EDT
FEMA has denied a $3 million reimbursement to the Letcher County Public School District for a new football field to replace one badly damaged by the 2022 flood. Superintendent Denise Yonts said the old Whitesburg High School field was rebuilt on higher ground across the river and will now be used for middle- and elementary school sports.
“FEMA had approved the project, and then once they got the plans and submission, and actually it's finished. We're getting ready to have our grand opening, but then they denied it on the second term, and so we've gone through the appeals process.”
Earlier this year, FEMA denied $3 million already appropriated for new school buses in Letcher County – a decision the agency reversed upon appeal. Yonts said she hopes the agency also changes course on the football field.
“As I understand, they can even approve parts of it. So we could get, you know, partial payment. We could get it all. It really is up to them and up to their decision, but it will be a significant hit to our budget.”
Yonts said the district’s FEMA consultants say the public assistance denial is not uncommon and the appeals process could take a year or more to resolve.
“FEMA had approved the project, and then once they got the plans and submission, and actually it's finished. We're getting ready to have our grand opening, but then they denied it on the second term, and so we've gone through the appeals process.”
Earlier this year, FEMA denied $3 million already appropriated for new school buses in Letcher County – a decision the agency reversed upon appeal. Yonts said she hopes the agency also changes course on the football field.
“As I understand, they can even approve parts of it. So we could get, you know, partial payment. We could get it all. It really is up to them and up to their decision, but it will be a significant hit to our budget.”
Yonts said the district’s FEMA consultants say the public assistance denial is not uncommon and the appeals process could take a year or more to resolve.