Jill Biden's visit to Kentucky postponed due to weather

First lady Jill Biden's planned Thursday visit to Kentucky to survey recovery efforts following the deadly December tornadoes will be postponed due to forecasts of winter weather.

Biden and FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks were to join Gov. Andy Beshear and his wife, Britainy, in Bowling Green to survey recovery efforts and highlight the federal-local partnership to supply aid to the region, according to a release.

A new date for Biden's visit has not yet been announced.

Warren County, where Bowling Green is located, is under a winter storm warning for Thursday and is forecast to receive between 3 and 5 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

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At least 77 people were killed by the multiple tornadoes that struck Kentucky the weekend of Dec. 10 —  the worst death toll in state history related to a tornado event.

Most of the destruction came from one tornado that traveled more than 220 miles from Arkansas through Kentucky, including the city of Mayfield.

The first lady planned to make two stops in Bowling Green, where the tornado outbreak led to the deaths of 17 people — the second largest concentration of deaths from the storms in one county.

Bowling Green was hit by another tornado New Year's Day, though far less powerful. 

KY tornado:A massive tornado ripped through Kentucky for more than 200 miles. Here's its path

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Beshear said Monday he is requesting that the federal government provide an extension of the 100% payment for debris removal and temporary housing for an additional 60 days.

"When you look at where downtown Mayfield still is, we know it's going to take a lot longer than 30 days and the costs are immense, exceeding $100 million to ultimately clean up that debris," Beshear said Monday while in Mayfield. "We've notified the federal government that that is coming. We have the support of the entire federal delegation of Kentucky, so we'll be pushing forward with that very important request."

Beshear also noted that there has been progress in more quickly getting people out of hotels and into semi-permanent housing such as campers or recreational vehicles.

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore. Reach Tessa Duvall at tduvall@courier-journal.com and 502-582-4059. Twitter: @TessaDuvall.