By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor
HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Emergency Management Director Charlie Shields provided an update on the tornado recovery effort in Ohio County. Shields also provided information on where storm victims can receive supplies and food.
Shields appeared on a live stream video from the Ohio County Park’s Facebook page. In the video Shields said 50 homes were destroyed by the tornado in Ohio County. While some roads may have been blocked in the immediate aftermath of the storms, all roads in Ohio County are now open.
A resource center has been set up at the Ohio County Park in Building #1.
“If people need food, if they need clothing, if they need toiletry items, anything like that, please come to Ohio County Park Building #1,” Shields implored. “We have the resources here.”
Shields also asked those who needed help clearing their driveways or other cleanup needs to call his office at 270-298-4412. Shields will have someone monitoring the phones until 4 p.m. each day and for those calling after 4 p.m., there is voicemail.
“We just need to know what (the storm victims) need to help (them),” Shields said. “If you need us, call us. Just let us know.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Ohio County next week and the county officials will begin damage assessments starting tomorrow afternoon through Friday.
“What that means is, we’re going to go around to each house and take pictures of all the storm damage,” Shields said. “We will put that into a database and FEMA will come in and (what insurance won’t pay for), FEMA will try to reimburse (the storm victim’s) money and try to help them out.”
An opportunity to donate money to help with the storm cleanup will be posted this afternoon. Shields asked those who would like to donate to watch for the information on the Ohio County Park’s Facebook page or the Ohio County EMA’s Facebook page. Shields guaranteed the money donated would stay in Ohio County.
People can also donate non-perishable foods, water, tarps and toiletries, by bringing those items to Building #! at the Ohio County Park. Clothes are not being accepted at this time.
The National Weather Service in Louisville has preliminarily determined Ohio County was hit by at least an EF-3 tornado which produced winds around 140 miles per hour. The NWS continues to assess damage in Ohio County.
