HARTFORD, Ky. — In Ohio County, residents impacted by the Dec. 10 tornadoes are still in the early stages of recovery and for the Alvey family faith has keep them strong during a very trying time. 

What You Need To Know

  • It's been nearly 6 weeks since the Quad State tornado devastated several Kentucky communities

  • The Alvey family survived a direct hit but their home did not

  • Churches and members have taken in many storm victims

  • The recovery process is slow but some families are already rebuilding

“We just got down and locked in, braced as hard as we could, squeezing into each other," Chris Alvey described the moments an EF-4 tornado destroyed the home around them.

The family of three survived a direct hit from the Dec. 10 tornado that also struck Mayfield and Dawson Springs. Thousands of Kentuckians lost their homes during the tornado outbreak and the Alvey's, included.

“Just about the time we got into the hallway the large windows exploded out of the living room," Alvey told Spectrum News 1.

The family's home was destroyed. The storm missed the town of Hartford but impacted farms and country homes like Alvey's.

“It’s only by the grace God that we are alive. He put his hand right on us last night ... and just as you would feel your strength, just gone, the weight of God’s hand pushed us together. It kept us right there together," Alvey said.

Alvey says the close-knit church community has made a huge impact on the recovery efforts of many families in the area.

“The outpouring and the generosity and the true generosity and the genuine concern about us, was, where you knew the community, where it really stood," Alvey said.

It’s been nearly six weeks since the Dec. 10 tornado outbreak killed 77 Kentuckians and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes.

“We were buried in, we’re talking, in knee deep, waist deep debris..”

Alvey’s son Ethan says the family is still processing what happened the night of the storm.

“Now, it’s even still hard to take in of course. It’s hard to wrap your head around but really having all of us here together still is all we need ... It hits us and it affects them as well because they are right there with us. We’ve had people literally miss school just to come out here and help, the younger Alvey said.

Chris Alvey says the trauma of Dec. is felt everyday but the fact his family is still standing is a gift.

“We could be extremely down. We could be extremely depressed but that’s not our attitude about it.”

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