tornado

Habitat for Humanity in the Pennyrile region is helping families rebuild if their homes were damaged or destroyed in the December tornadoes. Habitat is accepting applications for the rebuilding projects.

Many Bowling Green residents are still struggling from the most devastating tornado in Kentucky history. But they are not forgotten. A great deal of good will is still occurring in the community more than four months after the disaster, including two locals providing music and memories.

Spring construction is in full swing around Bowling Green, but the houses aren’t going up fast enough. December’s historic tornado caused major damage to 475 houses and apartments, displacing about 800 individuals.

Home Sweet Home has taken on a very literal meaning for Than Hlaing and his sister Tan Win. They were born in Thailand but have called Bowling Green home for the past 14 years.

Guitars, banjoes, harmonicas, violins, ukuleles, flutes and clarinets were among more than 800 instruments given away recently in three Kentucky communities. The WoodSongs Tornado Relief Effort coordinated the collection, restoration and distribution of the instruments.

It’s been about three months since tornadoes devastated hundreds of homes and businesses across Kentucky. As individuals continue to rebuild their homes and lives, mental health issues resulting from the trauma of the tornado may just now be setting in for some survivors.

March 14 is the deadline for Kentucky homeowners and renters to apply to FEMA to have their costs reimbursed for damages caused by the Dec. 10 and 11 tornadoes. Once an initial application is made by the March 14 deadline, additional information can be added later.

Started in the days after December’s tornado outbreak in western and central Kentucky, the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund has seen a massive amount of donations. By Feb. 4, $46,245,949 had been given, but only a little less than 7% of those funds have been distributed to impacted Kentuckians.

Jimmy Galbreath watched an excavator claw tear one of the homes into rubble. His homes were damaged beyond repair by a violent EF-4 tornado on Dec. 10, part of a catastrophic tornado outbreak that ripped through the Kentucky town of 10,000 and transformed the lives of thousands more across the region.

Two months after a deadly tornado ravaged parts of western and southern Kentucky, businesses in Bowling Green are having mixed results getting back on…