How Peace Winds is Providing Relief for U.S. Tornado Survivors
Last week, Peace Winds staff had the opportunity to travel to Mayfield, Kentucky, a town that was hit particularly hard by the tornadoes that recently tore through parts of the United States. Peace Winds has partnered with the Western Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross to support the process of rebuilding. As we were there, Peace Winds worked alongside hundreds of volunteers from all over the country who were providing shelter, meals, comfort and support after devastating tornadoes left behind a heartbreaking trail of destruction in mid-December. This week, some 440 trained workers remain there, continuing to provide critical aid to families in need, and Peace Winds will be there for as long as we are needed.
Peace Winds met with our Red Cross partner and with volunteers and is happy to report the following update on our activities:
- In some of the hardest hit areas, emergency response vehicles are providing warm meals, water, snacks and relief supplies to people who are working tirelessly to recover.
- In Mayfield, Kentucky, hundreds of families are still displaced from their homes, and Peace Winds is working alongside state officials and other community organizations to support those staying in emergency shelters and other temporary accommodations, such as state park lodges and hotel rooms. Some of those affected by this disaster are receiving help to move into non-congregant housing options–such as hotel rooms–due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- To help keep everyone safe, COVID safety precautions include masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing regardless of vaccine status.
- With Peace Winds’ support, our partner the Red Cross has served more than 81,100 meals and snacks, distributed more than 51,200 relief items, and provided more than 9,900 individual care contacts to help people with medical or disability needs, as well as emotional and spiritual support. In Kentucky alone, we’ve served more than 67,100 meals and snacks, distributed more than 40,400 relief items, and provided over 8,500 individual care contacts.
Our local partner, the Red Cross has three support centers set up in the area. Peace Winds staff visited one in Mayfield where beneficiaries are first greeted by volunteers with water, snacks, and stuffed animals for the children. Residents can come to this center to register for financial assistance from the Red Cross. We had the chance to speak to a few of them; one woman had lost everything, including her home, and is now living with her mother. Another man said his home was unaffected by the tornadoes, but his workplace was destroyed. He hadn’t been able to work since the storms hit and was seeking rental assistance.
In addition to the buildings set up support centers, workers and volunteers also reach beneficiaries with vans called Emergency Response Vehicles or ERVs. In the same way that disaster relief organizations sometimes drive around communities going door-to-door with food, water, or clothing, Peace Winds has been supporting bringing services to community members with the ERVs to make financial assistance more accessible.
Finally, Peace Winds paid a visit to the Red Cross’ temporary headquarters, set up in an events center about 30 minutes east of Mayfield. Each day, between 60 and 70 people–most of them volunteers–work here to manage the logistics of the relief project. This includes everything from finances and recruiting volunteers to managing their travel itineraries and laundry.
Driving through downtown Mayfield and seeing the destruction to the town was something we will never forget. It was a sobering reminder of how many people’s homes and livelihoods were destroyed in an instant and how long it will take to build back.
At the same time, in the midst of all the destruction, it was amazing to see how many generous people are out there who are willing to help those in need. Of the 450 people making up the relief team in Kentucky, 90 percent were volunteers. Some are locals supporting their neighbors while others have flown in from all over the country to stay in the area for two weeks and donate their valuable time to help people they don’t even know. Not only that, but this storm hit right in the middle of the Christmas season, leaving survivors without homes and many without loved ones during what should be “the most wonderful time of the year.” Many of the volunteers spent their own Christmases in the area, still helping, refusing to let their commitment to giving back take a holiday.
Peace Winds would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to each and every donor! The volunteers we met in Kentucky were extremely kind and welcoming and appreciative of our support. Even the beneficiaries we spoke to, who have lost their homes and their livelihoods, were some of the kindest people one could hope to meet. We would also like to thank everyone who has supported Peace Winds’ relief efforts, whether that has been with a donation or a simple retweet. It’s going to be a long road to recovery for the people of Kentucky, but every bit of support you give goes a long way, and they are incredibly grateful for it.
With your help, we look forward to growing Peace Winds’ ability to help those affected by this disaster through their journey to recovery.
