Governor Matt Bevin declared a statewide emergency on Friday, March 3, in response to the severe storms across Kentucky on February 28 and March 1. Strong rain, flooding, hail, straight line winds, and tornadoes left citizens with injuries and homes and property damaged. The Governor’s executive order protects the Commonwealth’s option to submit a formal FEMA declaration request during the 30-day period of documentation. More than three dozen counties reported damages. Governor Bevin has also activated the state’s prohibitions on price gouging, effective immediately, to protect consumers affected by the severe weather system.