FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. — Tornadoes in Western Kentucky in December and now deadly flooding in Eastern Kentucky, and the Kentucky Red Cross has responded each time.
“It’s been a struggle,” spokesperson Remy Kennedy said. “People are just kind of like, ‘Can we get a break? Can it just calm down for a little bit?’ But unfortunately, Mother Nature does her own thing.”
Kennedy said crews have spent the last day getting boots on the ground to help the relief effort, and opening up multiple shelters.
Campton Elementary School, 166 Highway 2491, Campton, KY 41301
Floyd County Community Center, 7199 KY-80, Langley, KY 41645
Shelby Valley Elementary, 163 Douglas Parkway, Pikeville, KY 41501
Wolfe County High School, 20 High School Road, Campton, KY 41301
First Presbyterian Church, 160 Broadway, Hazard, KY 41701
Floyd County Community Center, 7199 KY-80, Langley, KY 41645
Kennedy said several resources will be available at those shelters such as food and care kits.
“We don’t ever want anyone when they’re displaced to feel like they don’t have someone to talk to; they don’t have someone who understands, so we’re that organization,” she said. “We were here before the disaster, we’re going to be here during it and we’re going to be here even after it.”
Kennedy said volunteers from outside Eastern Kentucky are joining the people who already lived there to help, and some out-of-state help could come soon as well.
“One beautiful thing about when something like this happens is that you see how people want to come together and want to help,” she said. “I mean, we’ll have people begging, saying, ‘Tell me what to do! Tell me what to do!’ And that’s one great thing that even in the face of devastation, people just want to put their hands around each other and help.”
Anyone who needs help should also reach out to the Red Cross hotline at 1 (800) RED CROSS.