HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Mother Nature dealt Kentucky a devastating one-two punch.
One month after severe flooding struck the area, this weekend’s severe storms killed at least 19 people. Eighteen of the reported deaths occurred in Laurel and Pulaski counties.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has established a disaster center in Christian County to assist those who have been affected by the April storms.
“I relocated as quickly as possible [this weekend],” Hopkinsville resident and native Justin Thompson told News 2. “My house is pretty much destroyed from the last disaster we’ve had.”
Thompson has spent the majority of his time in a FEMA relief center since flooding devastated Hopkinsville in early April.
“It has been a wild ride this last month,” Thompson said. “It was paperwork after paperwork, inspection after inspection. I believe I’ve been to this building five times.
FEMA’s active presence in Southern Kentucky will most likely continue after Friday night’s storms, with more storms expected.
“As of May 16, when we were declared, FEMA has distributed $10 million and assisted 1,200 survivors in Kentucky,” said FEMA’s Eren Strittar. “There is help out there. Contact your local emergency medical services.
As of Monday, Kentucky had yet to file a disaster relief request with the federal government, so FEMA and other federal aid were not on-site in the areas affected by the most recent storms. That is likely to change later this week.
While the damage in Christian County on Friday was minimal, Thompson said he hasn’t slept properly in over a month, with the severe weather being among the worst he has ever seen.
“It has been very stressful,” Thompson admitted. “It has definitely been weighing heavily on me.” Actually, the house I recently lost due to damage was my childhood home.
Thompson said his Hopkinsville community has been “really supportive,” doing whatever they can to assist their neighbors.
His advice to other Kentucky residents is to stay grounded and rely on their family.
