LEXINGTON, Ky.- First responders from all over Kentucky responded to the need in Western Kentucky, helping with clean up and structural damage.
For three days Lewis Crump, an officer from the Georgetown Police Department helped first responders in Mayfield.
“The fire department is completely gone and I can’t imagine what those dudes are going through right now because of all the work they have. Worrying about looters and they’re trying to help the community that is looking to them as a whole and I’m pretty sure they’re overwhelmed and it was nice to go over and take some of that burden off of them,” Crump said.
Crump helped move tree limbs, debris, and trash to the side of the roads to help with city clean up. Meeting people throughout the community, Crump says there are stories and Kentuckians he will never forget.
“There was a trailer and the trailer was completely destroyed, it was gone. It ripped right off it’s floor. And we were like there’s no way. And the gentleman who owned the property showed up and said, 'Yes I was in the house when it happened.' and he told us the story about it. The tornado ripping the house around, completely out and his children being in there with him, and they all made it by the grace of God. That was pretty moving,” Crump said.
Along with Georgetown Police, the Lexington Fire Department also stepped in with their structural collapse team to work specifically on the Candle Factory.
“We use those on extractions and down at the collapse that we were at. We use those to cut some metal and some beams,” Captain Ryan Hogsten said.
Hogsten says the tornado damage was the worst he has ever seen, and says for 81 hours his team of trained rescue technicians rescued victims trapped in the damage.
“The devastation is just unreal. I'm making a rough estimate that three out of every four buildings in that area were destroyed and those that are standing probably half of those will have to be torn down. So it's totally devastating for the community,” Hogsten said.
Hogsten and Crump both say being a first responder can be difficult in times like these, but being able to help fellow firefighters and police officers in their community is something they will continue to do, especially in times like these.
The Lexington Fire Department and the Georgetown Police Station say they are both on standby and prepared to send more of their staff if need be over the next couple of weeks.