KENTUCKY, USA — It's been a little over a week since deadly tornadoes killed dozens across the South and Midwest. As the clean-up continues in hard hit Kentucky, help has poured in from around the country, including the American Red Cross of Connecticut which has organization has volunteers on the ground.
"We spoke with a gentleman who said, 'This is my community. This is where I live. I have my body and soul and I'm alive, but as I look everywhere that I've grown up for 40 years in this town, my town is gone, my community, my neighbors are gone,'" said Joe Apicelli, a member of the American Red Cross from Groton who is currently in Kentucky.
Apicelli said the American Red Cross is implementing its service delivery plan to help affected communities across the state.
Work so far has included tracing the path of the storm to determine where exactly Red Cross assistance would be most beneficial.
"A lot of the big cities, Mayfield, Mansfield are getting all the attention but there's so many pockets and towns along the path, the 200 mile path of the tornado that aren't getting as much media attention and with that," said Apicelli.
The mission now is to find those people in remote areas and offer a helping hand in the form of clean-up supplies, emotional support and food.
"Today, for example, we're going out with seven emergency response vehicles to the neighborhoods that have been affected and we're serving up to 1,600 hot meals, snacks and water, and that number has increased every day," said Apicelli.
Those growing numbers are a reflection of the massive devastation and the resiliency required to overcome it.
"The people here in Kentucky have gone through the worst possible part of their lives and they're strong. Their strength is overwhelming. It's a faith-based community. Their hearts are wide-open. They're beat up, they're sad, but they are still ready to help each other," said Apicelli.
People can support the American Red Cross recovery efforts in Kentucky by donating money or blood. To learn more about donating, click here.
Angelo Bavaro is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at abavaro@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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