On December 10, 2021, tornadoes swept through 16 west Kentucky counties, took 81 lives and caused more than $300 million in damage to homes, churches and businesses — beloved, long-established towns dating back to the early 1800s trashed from a natural rage.
In the year since, recovery efforts have been paced and deliberate, with donations and monies from worldwide fundraising — as well as state and federal coffers — coming to the area.
During his Thursday “Team Kentucky” update, Gov. Andy Beshear reflected on the fateful weekend — one that showed the pain, and the resolve, of the Commonwealth.
Beshear and his staff will be making a three-stop tour Saturday through Dawson Springs, Marshall County and Mayfield — looking to remember those lost, while celebrating the growth from disaster.
The governor noted that even now, a year later, it’s difficult to struggle with the “why?” of this disaster.
Much work remains for west Kentucky, tomorrow and the years following. However, some progress has been made.
— In Mayfield, 257 homes were demolished, and another 1,000 experienced degrees of devastation. Most of the historic downtown was deleted.
— The Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund has since received more than 150,000 cash donations totaling $52 million, most of which has been used to pay for funerals, insured and uninsured homeowners, farmers, granaries, and to organizations working to replace 300 homes.
As of December 2, and per FEMA officials:
— 16 counties remain designated for federal assistance, including Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marshall and Muhlenberg.
— More than $11.5 million has been approved for housing assistance, and another $4.4 million has been appropriated for other needs assistance such as essential household items and disaster-related efforts.
— 55 families are still participating in FEMA’s Direct Temporary Housing program, including residents of Caldwell, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall and Muhlenberg.
— 37 families have moved out of this program, and into permanent housing.
— Nearly 1,600 families have received up to 18 months worth of temporary rental assistance from FEMA.
— More than 650 disaster loans were approved for homeowners, renters and businesses, totaling nearly $60 million in value.
— More than $50 million has been awarded in home loans.
— 23 counties remain eligible for public assistance because of this disaster, including Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Muhlenberg and Todd.
— Already, this program has approved more than $30 million for WKY.
Beshear also noted Thursday that job creation remains strong in west Kentucky, especially in this aftermath.
Long-term recovery groups in Caldwell, Hopkins, Marshall and Muhlenberg have also been fervent and active since that weekend.
