Mayfield on the road to recovery after December tornadoes

MAYFIELD, Ky. – The heartache continues two months after a strong sequence of tornadoes leveled communities in eight states, together with Kentucky.

The storm carved a path of destruction greater than 200 miles lengthy throughout the heartland. At the very least 90 individuals had been killed and a whole lot extra had been displaced in a single evening.

The small western Kentucky metropolis of Mayfield bore the brunt of the storm injury.

Taylor Massey, a Mayfield resident, tells Fox Information she remembers Dec. 10 prefer it was yesterday.

The hairdresser was huddled at residence along with her dad and mom when a part of her roof collapsed and the home lifted off its basis. After escaping the house, Massey mentioned her household instantly assisted neighbors with clothes and first support earlier than EMTs began to reply.

“It was a continuing battle simply attempting to get by all of that [debris] to see if we might discover anyone, assist anyone,” Massey mentioned. “You’re grateful to outlive however you are feeling responsible … every day makes it a little bit bit simpler, but it surely’s onerous to have a look at your city and see every part principally flattened.”

MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY, TORNADO SURVIVORS DESCRIBE HEART-WRENCHING MOMENTS BEFORE, AFTER TWISTERS

At the moment, the storm survivor resides along with her cousin close by, but it surely received’t be for lengthy. Massey is one in all 10 individuals not too long ago authorized to have their properties rebuilt by Houses and Hope, a neighborhood nonprofit group. In late January, the group broke floor on the primary residence to be rebuilt in Mayfield after a December twister.

“It was essentially the most overwhelming information I’d heard in a very long time. I’d solely lived in my residence for six months when the twister occurred … so to have the ability to get this new home, it’s wonderful,” Massey mentioned.

The group fashioned in response to the twister devastation and companions with Amish and Mennonite builders. Along with rebuilding hopes, the group has undertaken residence restore.

“The main focus is on Mayfield and Graves County for householders who had no insurance coverage or too little insurance coverage, and the group has actually rallied round that and joined our effort,” mentioned Heather Massey, a co-chair for Houses and Hope. “We’re seeking to rebuild properties of their identical spots and put them [homeowners] again in a house as quickly as doable.”

The group is only one of many reduction efforts throughout Mayfield.

Town’s mayor, Kathy O’Nan, mentioned the help is required because the group plans to rebuild. Town misplaced practically each county and municipal authorities constructing within the wake of December’s twister. Throughout Mayfield, cleanup crews have begun to demolish the stays of town’s largest buildings, together with workplaces and church buildings.

MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY, TORNADO SURVIVORS DESCRIBE HEART-WRENCHING MOMENTS BEFORE, AFTER TWISTERS

“We glance out throughout our city with our hearts damaged, however what follows is the fantastic thing about humanity,” O’Nan mentioned. “What has come to us within the type of assist and donations of each form present me we’re a nation of form giving souls.”

O’Nan advised Fox Information catastrophe help has poured in from volunteers, federal companies and particular person donors throughout the nation.

“I bought a name from Mayfield, New York, and since we share a reputation that metropolis and county, by their sheriff’s workplace, determined to start out a fundraiser that’s collected $86,000,” O’Nan mentioned. “They’re a sister metropolis of ours any further, and in the event that they ever want something we’ll reply.”

In January, the state bought 200 trailers to briefly home displaced Mayfield households in Dawson Springs.

The state’s Western Kentucky Twister Reduction Fund has additionally raised greater than $41 million {dollars}. To this point, greater than $700,000 has been allotted to funeral bills, and Gov. Andy Beshear has mentioned further spending will take time.

The federal authorities has additionally offered $45 million in monetary help to Kentucky’s twister survivors.

FEMA department director Keith Denning mentioned $12 million went towards help for households and people, together with $8.5 million for housing help. The remaining $33 million went to low-interest SBA loans for householders, renters and companies.

The deadline for twister survivors to use for housing help by FEMA is Feb. 11.