FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky released information on how people can help those affected by the recent strong storms and tornadoes in Kentucky. There is also information for those who had damage or lost property in the storms. WFLP-FM in Louisville also contributed to the list of resources below.
Visit Building #1 at the Ohio County Park or call Ohio County EMA at 270-298-4412 to find out how you can help those in need in Ohio County.
From the Governor’s Office:
Starting today, residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians); The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
Kentucky State Parks in the area are now open to host families who need housing for at least two weeks. Volunteers who are willing to assist state parks staff housing distressed guests should contact Kentucky State Parks Division Director Andy Kasitz at andy.kasitz@ky.gov.
Until mobile units for the Department for Community-Based Services locations in Mayfield/Graves County those who need help may call 855-306-8959, or they may apply for help online at kynect.ky.gov. Starting today, a special queue is in place for people needing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP.
SBP – Post-Disaster Homeowner Resources
After disaster, impacted homeowners are often at a loss for what to do next. The following resources are informative and help homeowners make smart decisions in a stressful time.
- Navigating FEMA
- Insurance Guide
- Avoiding Contractor Fraud
- Contractor Fraud Checklist
- Información general del proceso de asistencia por desastres
- Guía de Seguro Posterior a un Desastre
- Cómo evitar los fraudes de contratistas
- Lista de Verificación de Fraude para Contratistas
Here’s how you can help tornado victims:
Donate to disaster relief funds
Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
Kentucky Red Cross:
Donate online here
Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
To donate by phone via credit card or to ask questions about donating money to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669)
- Verified GoFundMe pages created by community members and organizations in need
- His House Ministries (Mayfield, Ky)
- United Way of Kentucky
- Disaster Relief At Work
- Convoy of Hope
- Aspire Appalachia
- Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief
- Shop Local Kentucky – purchase a “Kentucky Strong” T-shirt and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
- The Lee Initiative
- Mayfield-Graves County United Way
- Salvation Army Disaster Relief
- Relevant Church (Mayfield, KY)
- Rise and Shine (Bowling Green, KY)
- Global Giving Midwest US Tornado Relief Fund
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
- Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort
- Lutheran Disaster Response
Donate blood
- Kentucky Red Cross: Find your local blood bank here
- Kentucky Blood Center: Find a drive here
Donate clothes, blankets, food, water and other supplies
*Suggested donations include gas, generators, storage bins/totes, flash lights, head lamps, batteries, utility gloves, phone chargers, gas cans, socks, undergarments, blankets, coats, warm clothes, shoes, toiletries, paper towels, plastic utensils, paper plates, feminine hygiene products, baby formula, diapers, wipes, water, non-perishable foods.
- The Salvation Army Kentucky/Tennessee Division
- Roebling Point Books, 601 Overton Street, Newport, KY 41071
- Newport Fire Department, 998 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071
- Walnut Grove Baptist Church, 2941 Highland Lick Rd, Russellville, KY
- Stepstone Family and Youth Services, 78 Caky Dr, Benton, KY, 270-527-8388
- First Baptist Church, 2890 Broadway St, Paducah, KY, 270-442-2728
- Marshall County Exceptional Center, 198 Old Symsonia Rd, Benton, KY, 270-252-6530 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Sunday, Dec. 12 – Friday, Dec. 17)
- Akridge Farm Supply, 724 Fairview Ave, Eddyville, KY 42038, 270-388-2910 – Looking specifically for tarps and gas cans
- Cave City Community Center (Senior Center), 105 Duke St, Cave City, KY 42127
- Northside Baptist Church, 611 W Lockridge St, Mayfield, KY
- Dry Ground Brewing Company, 3121 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001
- Paducah Beer Werks, 301 N 4th St, Paducah, KY 42001
- Four Pegs Smokehouse and Bar, 1053 Goss Ave, Louisville, KY 40217
- Jamestown City Park Batting Cages, 123 Park Ave, Jamestown, KY 42629 (drop off from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday through Thursday)
- Russell Springs City Hall, 487 Main Street, Russell Springs, KY 42642 (drop off from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday)
- Lone Oak Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003
- St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, 20 KY-339, Fancy Farm, KY 42039
- Water drive at Pritchard Community Center, 404 S Mulberry St, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (need cases of bottled water)
- Felix Martin Hall, 501 W. Everly Brothers Blvd., Greenville, KY. 42345
- Kentucky Education Development Corporation, Ashland office (904 Rose Road) and Lexington Office (118 James Court Ste 60)
- Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, 208 South Main Street, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342
- Winchester Police Department, 16 S. Maple Street, Winchester, KY (accepting donations until Monday evening)
- Georgetown Fire Department, 101 Jacobs Drive, Georgetown, KY (accepting donations all week)
- Clarksville Town Hall, 2000 Broadway Street, Clarksville, IN, (accepting donation Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Dare to Care Food Bank
- Hope 2 All Food Pantry, 307 W. Mose Rager Blvd. Drakesboro, KY 42337
- Community Kitchen, 1237 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Paducah, KY
- Veteran’s Club Inc., 9419 Seatonville rd. at Fern Creek Christian Church, Louisville, KY 40291
- Henderson County Schools/Henderson Police Department, 735 N. Elm St., Henderson, KY (will fill a bus to deliver to Dawson Springs, can drop off 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Redemption City Church, 104 Railroad Ave., Dawson Springs KY, 270-425-4310
- Mount Zion Baptist Church, 175 Graham Dr., Bowling Green, KY
- Eleventh St Baptist Church, 1035 Kenton ST. Bowling Green, KY (collecting from Sunday, Dec. 12 through Wednesday, Dec. 15)
- State Street Baptist Church, 340 State St. Bowling Green, KY (collecting from Sunday, Dec. 12 through Friday, Dec. 17)
- Hancock’s of Paducah, 3841 Hinkleville Road, Paducah, KY (accepting donations of clean quilts and blankets, Tuesday, Dec. 14 through Friday, Dec. 17, 9 a.m. to 5pm, and Saturday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Fairview Baptist Church, 701 West Water Street, Mayfield, KY
Volunteer
***Advisory: Please avoid obstructing search and rescue efforts by calling/checking-in beforehand***
- Kentucky Emergency Management – Fill out the volunteer/donate link here
- Kentucky Red Cross
- Catalyst Church, 114 Kings Dr., Mayfield, KY, (270) 356-1191
- South Warren High School, 8140 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, 270-467-7500
- Bremen Volunteer Fire Department, 51 College St., Bremen, KY 42325, 270-525-6002
- Lone Oak Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003
- Bowling Green Community Action Center, 171 Center St, Bowling Green, KY, 270-782-4437
- Gasper Brewing Company, 302 State Street, Bowling Green, KY. – need volunteers to serve food
- Mayfield City Hall, 211 E. Broadway, Mayfield, KY – Volunteers needed with drills
- Kentucky Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
- God’s Pit Crew – Crisis Response Team
- Team Rubicon Disaster Response
- Covenant Community Church, 1055 North Main Street, Madisonville, KY, 270-821-2000
- Mercy Chefs – Mayfield, KY Tornado Response (shifts available throughout the week)
- Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
Support pets/stray animals in need
- The Humane Society Animal Rescue & Response Team
- Kentucky Humane Society
Foster a pet or donate supplies! The following shelters are in critical need due to the tornadoes:
- Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter
- Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society
- Ceglinski Animal Clinic, 5401 Blandville Rd., Paducah, KY, 270-554-0171 (offering free housing for displaced pets)
- River Retriever Kennels LLC, 5796 Old Mayfield Rd., Paducah, KY, 270-556-4433 (offering housing for displaced pets)
- Marcus Rushing, 224 Hughes Rd., Wickliffe, KY, 985-605-4068 (has pasture and barn for cattle/horses, free of charge to victims of the tornadoes)
- Mociso Farms Livestock Sanctuary & Rescue Ltd., 595 Osborne Rd. Ekron, Ky. (drop off pet supplies, food and any other items for disaster relief from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Refer community members in distress to these help lines
- SAMHSA – Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Report Price Gouging
It’s illegal for retailers to bump up the prices of certain things during an emergency. If you see it happening you can report it online or call 1-888-432-9257. Per the Kentucky Attorney General’s office, goods and services in this prohibition include: consumer food items; goods or services used for emergency cleanup; emergency supplies; medical supplies; home heating oil; building materials; housing; transportation, freight, and storage services; and gasoline or other motor fuels.