Gov. Andy Beshear speaking in front of the new travel trailers made available to those affected by the Dec. 10 storms.
MAYFIELD, DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. — Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear visited Mayfield and Dawson Springs to hand over travel trailer keys to the first group of families who survived the deadly December tornadoes but lost their homes.
The Commonwealth Sheltering Program has provided 10 travel trailers located at the Mayfield Mobile Home Community and 10 at the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park campground, and 180 more are on the way to help survivors in the 16 counties impacted by Dec. 10-11 tornadoes.
“What a hopeful day. Seeing these families move in is truly special,” said Gov. Beshear. “The road to full recovery will be long, but today we’re helping families start a new chapter with more space, privacy and comfort. These brand-new travel trailers are the next step as these folks continue to rebuild their lives, allowing many of them to move back to where their kids are in school and where they have even more support from their neighbors.”
At the Mayfield location, Gov. Beshear was pleased to hand Ashley Parnell and her 5-year-old son, Bentley, their keys.
“I am so grateful that my son and I will have the opportunity to get back to a normal routine and not spend so much time driving for his school commute,” said Parnell. “Thank you to Victory Through Faith in Paducah, which has let us stay at their facility since the tornado hit and have taken great care of us. But we are ready to be back in our hometown of Mayfield. I praise God and thank the Governor and his team for working aggressively on finding us shelter and staying true to their word. I can’t say thank you enough!”
Thursday, Gov. Beshear announced that the state had purchased 200 travel trailers from various RV dealers across Kentucky and that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will help in placing the medium-term housing solutions. All travel trailers are brand new, either a 2022 or 2021 model, and range in size from 27 feet long to 36 feet long.
“Consistent with Gov. Beshear’s commitment, these units are medium-term steps toward full recovery,” said Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, who joined Beshear Friday. “For our fellow Kentuckians who in many cases have lost everything, it’s a bit of stability, privacy and safety.”
The program is courtesy of bipartisan legislation that also provides $30 million for the impacted school systems to provide help and support for students.
“With the beginning of the commonwealth’s temporary sheltering program in Mayfield and Dawson Springs today, we’re taking the first steps in the process of long-term recovery for our Western Kentucky survivors,” said Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett. “The travel trailers represent our ability to leverage non-congregate sheltering solutions, prioritizing support for our most heavily impacted counties. In the coming weeks, we will continue to grow the sheltering program to relocate survivors back to their pre-disaster communities.”
To be eligible for the Commonwealth Sheltering Program, families must first register with FEMA before the disaster assistance deadline of Feb. 11. To apply for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
To find a Disaster Recovery Center visit fema.gov/drc or call the FEMA Helpline.