Jill Biden reschedules trip to tornado-damaged Kentucky

With last week's snowstorms cleared, first lady Jill Biden has finalized plans to visit Kentucky and survey areas damaged by last month's deadly tornado outbreak.

Biden will travel to Bowling Green on Friday, according to a release from the White House, with plans to visit the hard-hit Creekwood neighborhood before speaking alongside Deputy FEMA Administrator Erik Hooks and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear that afternoon.

During her visit, according to the White House, Biden will "survey recovery efforts following the devastation from recent tornadoes and volunteer at a local FEMA State Disaster Recovery Center" in an effort to "highlight the partnership between federal and local agencies that ensures Kentuckians are receiving the aid and relief they need."

More coverage: Bowling Green residents recall experience with deadly tornado

Four tornadoes hit Kentucky on the night of Dec. 10, leaving 77 dead and a trail of destruction through the western portion of the state. Bowling Green, the home of Western Kentucky University and the third-largest city in the state, was hit hard, with 17 deaths recorded in the county.

Biden had planned to visit Kentucky on Jan. 6 but postponed the trip after the weather forecast called for snowstorms across the state. About 6 inches of snow fell that day in Bowling Green, according to the National Weather Service, causing hundreds of car crashes across Kentucky and gridlocked traffic along many interstates. Warmer temperatures and rain in Sunday's forecast washed away much of the accumulation.

Friday's forecast in Bowling Green, for what it's worth, calls for partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 40s, with a chance of rain and snow overnight.

President Joe Biden visited the region Dec. 15, surveying several hard-hit areas and noting the federal government would "do whatever it takes, as long as it takes" to assist with recovery efforts. All emergency response and hazard mitigation costs would be covered by the government for the following 30 days, he said at the time.

Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jill Biden to visit Kentucky to survey tornado damage in Bowling Green