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FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – At the request of dozens of city and county governments, Gov. Andy Beshear has extended the State of Emergency he issued on Jan. 5 in the wake of the severe winter storms, which included activation of the price gouging statute, through May 3.

Under state law, a State of Emergency can only exceed 30 days, if it is requested by a local government chief executive officer or legislative body, and that entity must include the end date in their letter. The extension will only be honored in the cities and counties requesting one, so it is not a blanket extension for the entire state.

The extension requests came from 27 county judge-executives and 13 city mayors.

The counties affected by the May 3 extension are Bath, Boyd, Breathitt, Bullitt, Caldwell, Clark, Crittenden, Floyd, Gallatin, Greenup, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Lincoln, Livingston, Magoffin, Martin, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Perry, Pike, Spencer, Trimble, Union, Webster and Wolfe.

Cities included in the request are Ashland, Catlettsburg, Clay, Eddyville, Flatwoods, Lexington, Marion, Mt. Sterling, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Salyersville, Sebree and Winchester.

The January winter storm contained snow, freezing rain, ice, high winds and arctic-like temperatures, which lasted several days; creating dangerous travel and road conditions; along with damage to public infrastructure, utility distribution systems and private property. Those conditions endangered public health and safety, and/or public and private property.

You can read the entire State of Emergency extension Executive Order at https://web.sos.ky.gov/execjournalimages/2025-MISC-2025-0066-294744.pdf