Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the tornado relief efforts in Kentucky following the series of severe storms that hit the state earlier this month.
“Mr. President, I rise to once again share with my colleagues stories of the heart-breaking events in my home State of Kentucky in the aftermath of the horrific wave of storms and tornadoes that ravaged my State, along with several others in the Midwest, earlier this month.
“As I’ve already stated on this floor, these were very severe tornadoes, with at least 11 funnel clouds confirmed by the National Weather Service to have touched down in the Bluegrass State, blowing at wind speeds up to 125 miles per hour.
“We know that 24 Kentuckians lost their lives, and more than 300 were injured. Many homes, churches, schools, and places of business were destroyed. Scenes of destruction still exist across the State in places like Magoffin, Menifee, Kenton, Morgan, Laurel, Lawrence, Martin, Pulaski, Johnson, and Trimble counties, which are among the hardest hit.
“Kentuckians are working hard to rebuild. And I’m pleased to say that despite the tragedy of lives lost, families grieving, and memories destroyed forever, there is some good news to report. And that is how inspiring it is to see so many good-hearted Kentuckians come together to provide for their neighbors in the wake of these tornadoes.
“Take, for example, the congregation of Arthur Ridge Baptist Church in the town of East Bernstadt, located in Laurel County. Thanks to the leadership of Pastor Steve Smith, Arthur Ridge Baptist Church opened its doors within hours of the storm’s end to provide food and shelter for those who needed it.
“Pastor Smith kept the church doors open for 24 hours a day and served up to 700 meals a day to local residents who had no food, no kitchen, and no home to call their own. According to Pastor Smith, people from all over the area pitched in: folks from different churches worked to prepare meals, and many residents donated items such as dishes, silverware, toiletries, pillows, and blankets for care packages to distribute to the victims of the storms.
“Local businesses did their part. The nearby Little Caesar’s pizza restaurant in London, Kentucky, gave away 120 pizzas in one day soon after the tornadoes. Many other local restaurants donated food as well.
“Thanks in part to the efforts of Pastor Smith and the congregation of Arthur Ridge Baptist Church, life is just a little bit better for many in East Bernstadt. At first, the church had to tend to people’s most immediate and “simple needs—water, a hot meal, an air mattress to sleep on,” says Pastor Smith, who is a Laurel County native and has been the pastor at Arthur Ridge for six years. But now, he says, “people are over the shock and awe.”
“Weeks after the tornadoes passed, the church was still open 14 hours a day, distributing 125 to 150 meals a day and running a clothing distribution center. Pastor Smith’s latest focus was on finding a place to set up donated washing and drying machines so local storm victims without homes can clean their clothes.
“Over 3,500 people have registered to volunteer in the region, and as of last week, over 25,000 meals had been served to displaced families.
“This is just one story of how Kentuckians have joined together to help the least fortunate in my State. Hawk Creek Baptist Church in Laurel County, First Baptist Church of East Bernstadt, and Trinity Freewill Baptist Church of Martin County also all opened their doors to provide shelter and relief to displaced Kentuckians and the volunteers working to help them in the days after the disaster struck.
“Jim Paul, director of the organization called Ken-Tenn Relief Team, was in East Bernstadt the morning after the storms with food supplies. He trucked in a tractor-trailer load of donated food and other items and personally volunteered dozens of hours in at least three counties to aid storm victims.
“In Morgan County, the local Appalachian Regional Healthcare hospital suffered serious damage. Every second-floor window of the hospital was blown out, doors were torn off their hinges, and part of the roof was ripped off. Dozens of people were injured and the patients had to be evacuated to nearby hospitals.
“Luckily, Martie and Teresa Johnson, owners of a nearby Wendy’s restaurant, stepped in to help. They served 450 hot meals to the cleanup crew that came to repair the Morgan County ARH hospital, and also traveled to Salyersville and gave away food there.
“One television station in Hazard, Kentucky, WYMT, held a telethon to raise money for victims across the State. I was pleased to play a small part in that effort myself, Mr. President, as the television station asked me to record a greeting describing the devastating effects of the tornadoes. The people of the region raised over $180,000 in that telethon for disaster relief.
“The local JCPenney of Corbin, Kentucky, donated clothing and shoes to area elementary-school students. And the employees of the store took up a collection to donate winter, spring, and summer clothing for the children. ‘Some of [the employees] don’t have a lot to give, but when this came up, they all wanted to know what else we needed,’ says Tiffany Flint, the Corbin JCPenney store manager. ‘We hope it will help the children to look good and feel good. We just wanted to do this to help them get back on their feet.’
“The men’s soccer team from Kentucky’s University of the Cumberlands donated some of their time to help the less fortunate. Head soccer coach Brenton Benware, his staff, and nearly 30 student-athletes drove to East Bernstadt to help clean up debris in the area. ‘Going…was just another reminder of how blessed we really are,’ says Coach Benware. ‘I think we were all deeply affected by what we saw and reminded how important it is to serve and help out our neighbors in times of need.’
“While there, the University of the Cumberlands soccer team may have run into the soccer team from Union College, who also traveled to Laurel County to help. The team stacked wood from downed trees, cleared debris from backyards, and helped a man move a displaced steel roof that the tornado had deposited in his yard.
“Union College Dean of Students Debbie D’Anna was responsible for sponsoring the trip, while the school’s campus food services donated snacks and bottled water, and James Jimerson of the school’s physical plant loaned out tools. Local businesses such as Knox Hardware and Pope’s Lumber donated work and cleaning supplies. And many faculty, staff, and students of Union College donated items such as food, clothing, and other essentials.
“In Salyersville, a town in Magoffin County, the block known as “Restaurant Row” was hit by a tornado and nearly every restaurant on it destroyed. One of the few left was a Dairy Queen owned by Doug and Sue Mortimer. On the night of the storms, they opened their restaurant, running on generator power, and served free meals to the volunteers working to clean up the wreckage.
“Several Home Depot stores in Kentucky and Indiana contributed to the relief efforts. In the West Liberty area, district manager Becky Young and store manager Jim Householder coordinated donations of approximately $2,600. And Jim’s store employees were out immediately after the storm handing out paper towels, trash bags, and gloves to relief volunteers.
“Other Home Depot stores in Kentucky and Indiana, led by district manager Tim Choate and district human resource manager Lee Ann Bruce, donated thousands of dollars’ worth of products such as chainsaws, gloves, respirators, tarps, water, and trash bags to organizations such as the Henryville Fire Department and local United Way chapters. And store employees volunteered to assist those organizations in the recovery.
“Lowe’s stores in Kentucky have also pitched in, providing gloves, tarps, shovels, bleach, and other supplies to communities across the State. In addition to over $300,000 donated by the company to relief efforts after the storms, the Lowe’s district manager for Kentucky, Stephen West, dispatched “Lowe’s Heroes,” store employees who are volunteering their time and construction know-how.
“Local Walmart stores in Kentucky as well as the company’s foundation have provided tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of water, cleaning supplies, baby food, diapers, and more to help the community. Mr. Bob Gound, the market human resources manager for Walmart locations in eastern Kentucky, has taken the lead in coordinating these efforts. And local store employees are making bag lunches and handing them out in the hardest-hit Kentucky communities.
“Mr. President, I have seen firsthand in my recent visits to the Bluegrass State both how severe the destruction is, and how hard the people of Kentucky are working to rebuild and lift their neighbors out of the dire circumstances that the cruel forces of nature have put so many of them in.
“It is thanks to altruistic and generous Kentuckians like Pastor Steve Smith, among many others, that I am confident that the Kentuckians hurt by these storms will recover. I and my staff throughout the State have heard so many heart-warming stories like the few I’ve just shared that it would not be possible for me to recite them all on this Senate floor.
“But I hope that the few stories I have shared are more than enough to reassure my colleagues, the people of Kentucky, and the world that we Kentuckians are stout of heart and firm in our resolve. We will prevail over this tragedy. We will rebuild towns like East Bernstadt to be better than they were before. And the families of Kentucky will hopefully one day heal the wounds in their hearts and continue on.”