WEATHER IN KENTUCKY IS SOMETIMES EXTREME AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS.

BEING UNPREPARED WHEN SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES CAN BE DEADLY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW TO STAY SAFE?

WELCOME TO SEVERE WEATHER.

STAYING SAFE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING I'M CHRIS ALLEN, TV AND RADIO WEATHER VETERAN FROM BOWLING GREEN.

TONIGHT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE RECENT HISTORIC TORNADOES AND SEVERE STORMS THAT RAVAGED PARTS OF KENTUCKY ON DECEMBER 10TH AND 11TH.

IN THIS PROGRAM, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE DEVASTATING IMPACT THIS OUTBREAK AND HOW IT AFFECTED KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES - HOW THEY RESPONDED AND HOW THEY ARE RECOVERING.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR WHAT'S NEXT.

JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO ARE JOHN BROGAN, FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER FOR FEMA.

MICHAEL KOCHASIC, WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST FOR THE LOUISVILLE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

MICHAEL DOSSETT, KENTUCKY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

RETIRED AN JOINING US VIA SKYPE TRACEY WARNER, THE EMERGENCY MANAGER FOR GRAVES COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITY OF MAYFIELD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING AND FOR THIS ESPECIALLY TRACY WHO IS JOINING US FROM WHERE SOME OF THE WORST OF THE TORNADOES HAPPENED ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 10th AND 11th.

SHE'S GOING TO CHIME IN HERE VIA SKYPE IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

FIRST, LET'S OPEN THE SHOW THIS EVENING WITH WHAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT NOW FOR THREE MONTHS.

IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE MONTHS FOR A LOT OF US, IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY BUT MICHAEL FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STANDPOINT, THAT NIGHT WAS A CLASSIC SETUP METEOROLOGICALLY SPEAKING OF A WHAT WE CALL A NOCTURNAL EVENT, A NIGHT TIME EVENT AND WE HISTORICALLY KNOW THAT THOSE NIGHT TIME EVENTS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY IS DEADLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHEN TORNADOES HAPPEN AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT IT'S HARD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.

IT'S DARK UNLESS THERE'S LIGHTNING TO ILLUMINATE SOME OF THE MONTH STORES WE SAW AT THAT IT INTO.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BED, TURNED OFF THE TV SOMETIMES AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE MULTIPLE WAY TO SAY RECEIVE WARNINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE NIGHTTIME EE VNTS LIKE THIS.

>> WHEN EVERYONE ESPECIALLY THE OFFICE WHICH YOU SHARE COMMUNICATION WITH AND I WAS ONLINE THAT NIGHT AND IN THE CHAT ROOM NOTICES THAT PEDUKA WAS STARTING TO SAY WHAT WE CALL THE TAGGING THE BULL TINTS THAT WERE COMING OUT THEY WERE TAG THESE AS CONFIRMED.

IT WAS JUST ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

USUALLY, YOU WILL SEE A TORNADO WARNING AND IT WOULD SAY RAID ARE INDICATED OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WARNING TORNADO MIGHT HAPPEN.

EVERY ONE OF THESE COMING WERE SAYING CONFIRMED.

THAT'S SCARY.

>> IT'S SCARY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE TOO OFTEN OF THE ESPECIALLY FOR NIGHTTIME SETUPS LIKE.

THIS THE RADAR SIGNATURES WERE THERE.

DEBRIS BALLS WHERE THE RADAR CAN TELL THERE'S IN THE A CONSISTENT SIGNATURE THERE LIKE YOU SAY WITH A RAIN DROP OR SNOWFLAKE.

THERE WAS A A DEBRIS BALL WHERE IT HIT SOMETHING AND WE KNEW IT WAS BEING LOFTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

THAT HELPS US CONFIRM THE TORNADO.

PLUS, NUMEROUS REPORTS.

THIS STORM TOGETHER THIS PARASUPER CELL WAS TOGETHER FOR 8 HOURS AND CROSSED 350 MILES.

THERE WAS A BREAK IN THERE BETWEEN THE TORNADO.

AT ONE POINT HAD IT UCH TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF THE KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE BORDER THROUGH WHEN IT ENDED ROUGH FALLS WYOMING YOU'RE TALKING 156 MILES.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

THAT'S THE LONGEST TRACK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING INCREDIBLE THAT IS JUST A MONSTER AND HISTORIC, SOMETHING WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC.

THE GRAPHICS THAT WE'VE GOT UP THERE, THAT ONE IS SHOWING RADAR IMAGERY TAKEN, WHAT, EVERY 5 MINUTES?

>> THIS ONE HERE IS ABOUT EVERY 15 TO 20, JUST SO IT LOOKS NICE ON THE MAP SO YOU CAN DIFFERENTIATE THE STORM TRACK.

YES, IN REAL TIME YOU WOULD BE SEEING UPDATES EVERY 4 TO 5 MINUTES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

>> THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

I MEAN THAT KIND OF TRACK IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, WHAT, 8 HOURS IT TOOK FOR THAT TRACK 350 MILES, STARTED IN ARKANSAS WITH JUST CLIPPED THE BOOT HILL OF MISSOURI AND WENT THROUGH WESTERN KENTUCKY AND NORTHWARD.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE TIME FOR ONE TORNADO TO STAY ON THE GROUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE USUALLY IN OKLAHOMA OR SOMEWHERE OUT IN TORNADO ALLIE BUT NOT KENTUCKY.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE OF THE THE TIME OF YEAR IS ANOMALOUS.

YOU'RE TALKING DECEMBER.

THAT'S TRADITIONALLY OUR QUIETERS MONTHS FOR KENTUCKY'S CLIMATE HISTORY.

WE HAD THIS OUTBREAK AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.

WE HAD 20 TORNADOES THAT NIGHT, 21 ACTUALLY.

3 IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

OF COURSE THE BIG ONE WITH MAYFIELD AND 18 DIFFERENT ONES THIS CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE NIGHT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN IN DECEMBER.

>> IF WE COULD PUT THAT GRAPHIC BACK UP AGAIN THAT SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF THOSE TORNADOES.

THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT WERE EF 2, EF 4.

IT WAS TWO SEPARATE PATHS.

I'M IN BOWLING GROWN, THE E-F-3 THAT CAME THROUGH THERE WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING, LIKE 20 MINUTES AFTER 1:00, CENTRAL FIEM.

AND I WAS ON THE RADIO COVERING IT LIVE, AND IT WAS ONLY TWO STREETS OVER FROM WHERE THE RADIO STATION IS, AND I FELT LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT.

I MEAN, EVEN THAT FEW BLOCKS AWAY WAS THAT KIND OF IMPACT.

IT JUST FELT LIKE I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT OF IT.

I'M STILL HERE.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS -- THAT WAS IT.

THEN I GET OUT AND I LOOK TWO STREETS OVER, TWO BLOCKS OVER TO WHERE IT WENT RIGHT DOWN THE BYPASS AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THE DEVASTATION AND SOMETHING THAT BIG AND THAT IMPACTFUL HAD HIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BOWLING GREEN.

THERE HE IS AT BY PASS IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE FOOTAGE RIGHT AFTER DECEMBER 11th THE NEXT DAY OR SO, THAT'S SOME OF THE DAMAGE.

A LOT OF THAT DAMAGE IS STILL THERE.

JUST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT, THAT AREA AND MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFECTED ARE NEVER GOING TO LOOK THE SAME AS THEY DID.

THAT'S WHERE THE REAL IMPACT KIND OF HITS HOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

THESE FOLKS WILL BE CLEANING UP AND REBUILDING THEIR LIVES FOR YEARS TO COME.

FOLKS AT HOME DON'T USUALLY SEE THAT.

THEY SEE THE EVENT AND THEY SEE THE CLEANUP WITHIN THE WEEK OR TWO.

IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING WHEN ONE OF THESE HAPPENS.

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

IT SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF WAYS OF RECEIVING WARNINGS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT OR YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE BATTERY CHARGED UP.

WE HAVE EMERGENCY WIRELESS ALERTS THESE DAYS.

THEY SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WARNINGS IN CASE ONE OF YOUR SYSTEMS FAIL.

>> MORE THAN ONE WAY, WE ALWAYS SAY THAT.

DIRECTOR DOSSETT, LOOKING AT THAT FOOTAGE OF THE DAMAGE, YOU GET THE INITIAL FIRST CALL.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE?

WHAT GETS ACTIVATED WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE ON THE RECEIVING END, YOU'RE HEARING MAYFIELD HAS BEEN WIPED OUT.

WE DO MEAN WIPED OUT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN DOWN RANGE AND CERTAINLY TRACY CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS, VIDEO AND PICTURES DON'T DO IT JUSTICE.

IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY LITERALLY.

WE KNEW IT WAS BAD.

QUITE FRANKLY, WE WERE AT A LEVEL 4, A LEVEL 4 RISK LEVEL WHICH IS UNHEARD OF IN KENTUCKY.

IT RARELY OCCURS.

SO WE WERE ON HIGH ALERT.

AS SOON AS THE FIRST INDICATION THAT WE HAD TAKEN A HIT, WITH HE ACTIVATED TO LEVEL 3.

WE EVENT EVENTUALLY WENT TO LEVEL 1.

WHICH FOR KENTUCKY IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL WE HAVE REACHED SINCE THE ICE STORM OF 2009.

WE HAVE NEVER GONE TO THAT LEVEL PREVIOUSLY.

I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS EVENT WITHOUT ONCE AGAIN SHARING OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE 80 FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES, OUR CITIZENS IN KENTUCKY THAT PERISHED DURING THE EVENT.

WE MEALLY SAW AS MIKE INDICATED THERE WERE RADAR INDICATED DEBRIS PATTERNS.

WE HAD OBVIOUSLY RECEIVED STRIKES.

THE GOVERNOR CAME TO THE EOC IN THE EARLY, EARLY MORNING HOURS AND WE COMMUNICATED VIA SKYPE AND ZOOM, WHATEVER WE COULD LEVERAGE WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS AND EM DIRECTORS AND LOOKED AT WHAT WE BELIEVED WAS THE CASE.

WE WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNITS.

AGAIN, HATS OFF TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN ALL OF THESE COUNTIES.

YOU KNOW, MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGS AND BOWLING GREEN WERE THREE OF THE HARDEST HIT BUT THERE WERE MANY, MANY OTHER AREAS.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THERE WERE 21 TORNADOES DURING THAT 8-HOUR PERIOD JUST IN KENTUCKY ALONE.

AGAIN, THE LARGEST TORNADO IN KENTUCKY HISTORY AND MOST DEVASTATING.

WE ACTIVATED VERY QUICKLY.

WE NOTIFIED OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, OBVIOUSLY, AT THE WATCH DESK.

GREG OUR FEMA REGION ADMINISTRATOR.

WE GOT THE PARTS AND PIECES MOVING VERY QUICKLY.

>> AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS TO WHERE AT FIRST YOUR MIND CANNOT COMPREHEND WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED, AND THEN WHEN THE LIGHT OF DAY COMES AROUND THE NEXT MORNING AND YOU SEE THIS DEVASTATION WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE ON VIDEO, IT'S LIKE MICHAEL SAID, YOU THINK IT'S KANSAS OR NEBRASKA OR IOWA OR SOME PLACE IN THE PLAINS BECAUSE THAT'S MORE TYPICAL OF WHAT WE SEE AROUND HERE AND FRANKLY, MICHAEL YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE TO THIS BUT REALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SOMEWHAT DORMANT AS FAR AS TORNADO OUTBREAKS IN KENTUCKY.

SO, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND AS DIRECTOR DOSSETT POINTED OUT, THIS NOW RANKS EVEN OVER THE 74 SUPER OUTBREAK, THIS IS BIGGER THAN THAT.

AS FAR AS THE IMPACT, THE COST OF THE DISASTER IN THE MULTI-MILLIONS, THE 80 LIVES THAT WE LOST HERE IN KENTUCKY, AND JUST THE SHEAR MAGNITUDE OF THIS COULD HAVE ANYBODY REALLY BEEN PREPARED FOR THIS?

OR IS THIS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU GET TORNADOES SO BIG AND COVER SO MUCH OF A WIDE PATH AND A LONG PATH, IS THERE MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE THAT?

>> PLANNING AHEAD IS KEY TO ANY DISASTER THAT YOU COULD FACE.

TORNADOES IS NO DIFFERENT.

HAVING MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE THE WARNINGS, ALSO AN EMERGENCY PLAN TO KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD GO, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS THAT WERE IN MOBILE HOMES.

WE SAW PLENTY OF THOSE THAT WERE COMPLETELY -- >> LOTS OF THEM.

>> DESTROYED, THROWN FOR HALF A MILE OR MORE, YOU KNOW.

DIDN'T END SO WELL FOR SOME FOLKS.

HAVING A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE FOR WHERE TO GO SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AND IT WILL HAPPEN, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS IN OUR BACKYARD, SOME COMMUNITIES LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE, FRANKFORT ANYWHERE BOWLING GREEN, MAYFIELD AND OTHER COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING.

THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO IF IT'S COMING FOR YOU IN THAT MOMENT.

BUT AHEAD OF TIME IS KEY TO PLANNING IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND TO DO IT.

DON'T WAIT AROUND.

WE SAW SEVERAL STORIES WHEN WE WERE OUT STORM SURVEYING WITH PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, I GOT THE WARNING BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS BAD.

AND WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE HEED OF IT AND AND DO SOMETHING, SECONDS CAN MATTER.

ALWAYS COMEE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE DIRECT PATH OF THE STORM, YOU STILL NEED TO BE CONCERNED AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED IF THERE'S A WATCH, THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO WATCH.

YOU NEED -- THE TIME TO PLAN IS NOT AS IT'S COMING TOWARDS YOU.

THE TIME TO PLAN IS ON THOSE QUIET DAYS WHEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER AND YOU WORK OUT A PLAN AND THIS IS -- I KNOW JOHN, YOU WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS WHEN WE TALK MORE ABOUT FEMA AND PREPAREDNESS.

I WANT TO GET TRACY WARNER IN HERE FROM REALLY THE -- AT THE HEART OF THIS DISASTER.

TRACY, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FROM MAYFIELD AND GRAVES COUNTY.

I MEAN, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO EVERYBODY THERE BECAUSE WHEN WE HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN MAYFIELD WITH THE DEVASTATION RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE HEARING.

>> IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE BECAUSE I YOU KNOW DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT.

IT'S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAPPENED.

BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND THINGS ARE GETTING CLEANED UP.

IT IS A SLOW PROCESS, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET BACK.

I WANT TO SAY ON THIS STORM, I THINK THE JOB THAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDED FOR US THAT NIGHT BECAUSE IT DID STAY ON THE GROUND FOR SO LONG, I THINK THEIR JOB, THE LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE CHANNELS AND STUFF, THEY HAD DONE A GREAT JOB PREPARING PEOPLE BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM PUTTING MESSAGES OUT THERE LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE BAD, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE DEATHS.

WE ENDED UP LOSING 24 TOTAL AND SO I DO THINK OUR NUMBERS LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE THAT WE HAD WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT HIGHER HAD WE HAD NOT GOTTEN ENOUGH WARNINGS AHEAD OF TIME.

NORMALLY TORNADOES DON'T SAY ON THE GROUND THIS LONG AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THIS MUCH TIME TO GET TO A SHELTER AND STUFF.

I DO THINK THE WARNINGS HELPED AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK IT DID SAVE LIVES.

>> TRACY, WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION WHEN YOU WERE GETTING WORD FROM THE OBVIOUSLY WHERE YOU ARE YOU WOULD GET YOUR INFORMATION AND BULLETINS FROM THE PADUCKA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION WHEN YOU WERE HEARING NOT ONLY ARE THERE WARNINGS BUT THESE WERE CONFIRMED FOR TORNADOES THAT WERE HEADED DIRECTLY FOR YOU?

>> WHEN THEY FIRST -- THEY ACTUALLY CALLED ME AND SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC.

I STARTED CALLING.

WE HAVE 10 VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND ONE PAID.

SO I STARTED CALLING THE CHIEFS AND LETTING THEM KNOW TO GET THEIR GUYS READY THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE BAD.

THE TORNADO HAD SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT WAS GOING TO GO NORTH WAS GOING TO HIT THE AREA I WAS IN, STARTED CALLING FAMILY AND LETTING THEM KNOW.

OUT OF ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ALIVE, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD MY PARENTS TAKE SHELTER AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO THE BATHROOM.

SO THEY HAD DONE THAT, THEN IT SHIFTED AGAIN AND WAS COMING RIGHT TOWARDS MAYFIELD, WHICH MY DAUGHTER WAS AT THE NURSING HOME.

THEY GOT HIT, AND SO I TEXTED HER AND SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE BAD.

THEN, OF COURSE MY HUSBAND IS A FIRE CHIEF AND HIS VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

LUCKILY, HE WAS OUT IN A TRUCK WITH MY OTHER DAUGHTER.

THEY WERE OUT TO RESPOND.

I JUST TRY TO GET EVERYBODY READY AND PREPARED BUT WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS SAYING WHERE IT WAS GOING TO COME IN AT, I CALLED THE SHERIFF AND I TOLD HIM.

HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ROAD IT WAS GOING TO COME IN AT.

HE SENT 2 OFFICERS THERE AND THEY GOT HIT.

THEY WERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

I TYPED IT IN, I'VE GOT TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE HEAVILY DAMAGED VEHICLES THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.

JUST HEARING THEM ON THE RADIO, YOU KNOW, I CAN STILL HEAR THEM HOLLERING, SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN IN DIRECT PATH OF THE STORM.

FROM THAT POINT, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WENT BY VERY FAST, AND THEN -- THE CALL I GOT NEXT WAS MY DAUGHTER SAYING THEIR NURSING HOME HAD BEEN HIT.

>> WOW.

WELL, YOU'RE ENTIRE FAMILY AND YOUR FAMILY OF FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ALL RIGHT THERE IN THE THICK OF IT.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THAT WAS FOR YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR -- AND STAND BY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THAT, THAT FIRST HAND ACCOUNT.

DIRECTOR, I KNOW THIS IS WHAT THEY TRAIN FOR BUT I MEAN, TO HAVE SOMEONE AT GROUND ZERO IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION AND OBVIOUSLY SHE RESPONDED BEAUTIFULLY IN THAT CHAOS, THIS IS WHAT THEY TRAIN FOR, BUT STILL IT'S JUST LIKE, TO HEAR THE ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED IS REALLY HEART WRENCHING.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, CHRIS.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK TRACY, JUDGE PERI, THE FIRE CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF, EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND THAT NIGHT.

THIS IS A ONE OF.

THIS IS A ONE OF FOR KENTUCKY.

IT'S A ONE OF IN THEIR LIVES AND THEY PERFORMED EXACTLY AS THEY WERE TRAINED.

NO ONE EXPECTS IT EVER TO BE THIS BAD.

THEY'RE A SHINING EXAMPLE ALONG WITH ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE OTHER KUN TOYS.

WE DECLARED 23 COUNTIES AND TRACY AND ALL THE FOLKS IN MAYFIELD ARE SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW BAD IT CAN GET AND HOW IT'S DONE RIGHT.

THEY DID A REMARKABLE JOB.

THIS IS A TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY EVENT.

>> I MEAN, YOU SEE THE FOOTAGE THERE FROM MR. WESTERFIELD WHO SENT UP HIS DRONE, WENT AROUND -- THAT'S THE COURTHOUSE IN MAYFIELD.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING DIRECT HIT DOWNTOWN.

>> PICTURE SAYS IT ALL.

>> IT'S REALLY -- WHEN YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, SMALL TOWN IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THEY GO TO THE COURTHOUSE, GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, GET CLERK RECORDS AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF, PAY THEIR TAXES, THE BANK ACROSS THE STREET DOING BUSINESS THERE, AND TO SEE ALL OF THAT JUST IN SHAMBLES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS IS PRODUCE FOR THOSE FOLKS AND EVERYBODY WATCHING, I KNOW THIS MADE NATIONAL NEWS BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN IMPACT.

JOHN FROM FEMA, I KNOW THAT ONCE THE WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED WHAT WAS COMING, SAID HERE IT IS AND THEN WE GET EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTIVATED, AND THEN WE KNOW THE NEXT PART OF THIS PROCESS IS RESPONSE AND RECOVERY AND FEMA STEPS IN AND SAYS, OKAY, NOW WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE AFFECTED AREAS AND HERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO NEED HELP FOR WEEKS, MAYBE MONTHS.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT TRACY AND DIRECTOR DOSSETT TALKED FIRST.

WE HAVE A SAYING IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ALL THE DISASTERS START LOCAL.

TRACY AND HER TEAM, FIRST RESPONDERS.

MIKE AND HIS TEAM SET UP -- FEMA IS AWARE AS MIKE SAID HE TALKED TO THE REGENTS.

WE WENT TO BED THAT NIEVMENT WE HAD STAFF HERE IN KENTUCKY WORKING A PREVIOUS EVENT.

SO I WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT IN LEXINGTON A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE KNOWING THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

I GOT A TEXT FROM MIKE'S DEPUTY AT 4 A.M. BY MAYFIELD THAT INDICATED YES INDEED SOMETHING VERY, VERY BAD HAPPENED.

SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED.

FEMA STEPPED UP.

I WAS IN THE EOC I THINK -- I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE STORMS TO PASS BECAUSE THEY WERE OVERHEAD.

I COULDN'T GET INTO THE EOC UNTIL THE WEATHER PASSED OVER LEXINGTON.

I WAS THERE RIGHT AWAY.

WITH WE HAD AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION FROM THE PRESIDENT IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS.

IT WAS VERY QUICK.

WHAT THAT DID WAS ALLOW FEDERAL RESOURCES TO BE FREED UP TO INCLUDE URBAN SEARCH AND WE -- RESCUE TEAMS.

CANDLE FACTORIES.

FOOD COMMODITY THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS.

FEMA STEPS IN BUT WE TAKE OUR DIRECTIONS FROM OUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS.

WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT.

WE IMMEDIATELY HAD STAFF ON THE GROUND THAT DAY.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, THAT SUNDAY, TWO DAYS LATER WE HAD A MAJOR -- DECLARATIONS ALSO VERY QUICK.

THAT ALLOWED UP -- THAT FREED UP THOSE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS.

FEMA MOVED VERY QUICKLY, AS FAST AS WE KOVMENT I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER SEEN FEMA MOVE THIS FAST.

LESS THAN WEEK WE HAD HUNDREDS OF STAFF IN KENTUCKY NOT JUST IN FRANKFORT AND LEXINGTON BUT IN THE REGISTERED AREA REGISTERING SURVIVORS, TRYING TO ASSIST SHELTERS, DELIVERING COMMODITIES.

ALL AGAIN AT THE DIRECTION OF THOSE LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS.

>> YEAH, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF THE RESPONSE FROM FEMA IN THOSE AFFECTED AREAS.

AND IT WASN'T ONLY JUST THESE AGENCIES BUT THERE WERE OTHERS.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, OBVIOUSLY,AL VAGUES ARMY, UNITED WAY.

THERE WERE SO MANY OTHERS THAT THAT JUMPED RIGHT IN AND IN FACT, I HAD HEARD -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT SOURCE BUT WE HAD HAD SO MANY PEOPLE FROM CITY, COUNTY OFFICIALS IN BOWLING GREEN, WARREN COUNTY, EVEN SOME OTHER AREAS COME IN, RADIO AND TELEVISION AND SOME WERE FROM OUT OF TOWN AND THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TO OTHER PLACES, OTHER DISASTERS AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF REMARKABLE REACTION FROM EVERYBODY, AND EVEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED WERE PITCHING IN AND SAYING, HEY, DO YOU NEED THIS?

I'VE GOT A BACK HOE DIGGER OVER HERE.

I HAVE A CHEERY PICKER.

I'VE GOT SAWS.

I'VE GOT TOOLS.

WHATEVER YOU NEED.

IT WAS REALLY REMARKABLE HOW EVERYBODY JUST PITCHED IN AND SAID, HOW CAN I HELP?

>> THAT'S STILL HAPPENING.

>> YEAH, IT'S STILL -- >> WE STILL HAVE VOLUNTEER AGENCIES OUT THERE DOING THAT.

THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE.

>> I MIGHT ADD, JOHN IS ONE OF THOSE.

JOHN WENT THROUGH JOPLIN AND MADE THE COMMENT THAT THIS IS SOME OF THE WORST HE'S SEEN AND JOHN WORKED THAT DISASTER FOR QUITE A WHILE.

I WILL ALSO TELL YOU IS KENTUCKIANS HELPING KENTUCKIANS.

THAT WAS THE BRIGHT SPOT.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS, PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITED AREA ALONG WITH SECRETARY AND ADMINISTRATOR DEANNA OF FEMA.

ALL TO SHOW SUPPORT AND WE GOT SOME OF THE QUICKEST REACTIONS IN REGONE 4 HISTORY TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THER 09 STATES.

WE HAD AN EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATION ON THE SATURDAY, ON THE SUNDAY AS JOHN INDICATED WE HAD AN EXPEDITED MAJOR DECLARATION.

WE GOT THE FIRST SIX COUNTIES FOR DIRECT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

THEN WE WENT TO 16 FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND FINALLY 23 COUNTIES.

IT WAS A REMARKABLE OUTPOURING OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

HAD YOU JOIN THAT WITH THE LOCAL AND THE STATE ASSISTANCE, YOU HAVE A TEAM PARTNERSHIP THAT IS STILL ON THE GROUND TODAY.

IT IS VERY NOTEWORTHY.

>> IT IS, AND JOHN MAYBE FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME THAT ARE WATCHING WHO DON'T HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON HOW THIS WORKS, THEY KEEP HEARING ABOUT DISASTER DECLARATION, THE DR. EVERYTHING IS ASSIGNED A NUMBER.

AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAYS, THIS AREA IS GOING TO BE DESIGNATED AS A DISASTER AREA ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING TO HELP PEOPLE RECOVER AND REBUILD AND WHATNOT.

KIND OF GIVE US THE SHORT VERSION OF THE PROCESS.

HAD YOU GUYS ARE ACTIVATED TO COME TO A BOWLING GREEN OR A MAYFIELD OR DAWSON SPRINGS, WHEREVER YOU'RE SET UP, TELL US HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER TO DO NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AND THEN THEY'RE PREPARED FOR IT.

>> SURE.

TO MIKE'S POINT, THIS HAPPENED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

THIS NORMALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN THIS FAST.

A LOT OF TIMES AN EVENT HAPPENS AND YOU SEE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL AND FEMA AND FEDS NEVER GET INVOLVED.

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE EVENT IS OVERWHELMS THE STATE'S CAPACITY WHETHER ON THE RESPONSE TIME.

SOMETIMES IT MAY TAKE A COUPLE WEEKS ON THE RECOVERY SIDE THIS IS BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY, THE GOVERNOR OF THAT STATE WILL REQUEST UP TO FEMA THAT WE WOULD LIKE A MAJOR DECLARATION.

FEMA WOULD EVALUATE THE DAMAGES, NORMALLY THEY WOULD DO WHAT WE CALL JOINT PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS.

FOR COMMUNITIES THAT GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE -- IF YOU HEAR THE KYM ASK ABOUT REPORT YOUR DAMAGES, BE READY FOR THAT.

GO OUT THERE AND DO THE JOINT PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.

THAT'S WHEN WE EVALUATE WHAT THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE IS.

THERE WILL BE A DECISION WHETHER THERE WILL BE A PLAY JUROR DECLARATION THAT GETS DECLARED.

AN OFFICER GET APPOINTED.

THEN THEY GO TO WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS.

DEPENDING ON THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IT COULD BE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.

DIFFERENT COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED WITH CERTAIN CRITERIA.

THAT DETERMINES WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE, PUBLIC YOU A ASSISTANCE, WE WILL DIRECT RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT RESPONSE.

AS WE'RE LOOKING AT FOOTAGE FROM DAWSON SPRINGS, WE CAN THROW UP SOME OF THE MORE RECENT FOOTAGE FROM BOWLING GREEN AND MAYFIELD, BECAUSE THIS AS YOU GUYS ARE THERE AND YOU'RE ASSISTING, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE I REMEMBER TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON MY RADIO SHOW BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE CALLING IN AND SAYING, WHY CAN'T I JUST HAVE MY DEBRIS HAULED OFF?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE KOARPS OF ENGINEERS HAS TO COME OUT AND THEY HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH DEBRIS IS THERE.

IT ALL WORKS TO THE WITH HELPING GET THOSE DISASTERS RELIEF FUNDS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE'S CERTAIN AS WITH ANYTHING, THERE IS REGULATIONS AND IT'S NOT A MATTER OF SAYING, COMMUNITIES CAN'T DO SOMETHING BUT AS YOU MENTION, CHRIS, IT'S THOSE DISASTER FUNDS AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS ACTION IT COMES TO DEBRIS AS TRACY WELL KNOWS, THAT IS KIND OF A COMPLICATED PROCESS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE DEBRIS SOMETIMES IT'S MATTER OF SORTING IT OUT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TAKING HAZARDOUS DEBRIS OUT, WHITE DEBRIS, COMMERCIAL DEBRIS, TRACKING THE LOW TICKETS MAKING SURE YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING, HOW MUCH WAS HAULED AWAY.

WHEN IT COMES TIME I MENTION PUBLIC ASSISTANCE THAT'S A PESH ASSISTANCE WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR COMMUNITIES TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAULING THIS DEBRIS AWAY WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION.

COMMUNITIES DO ON THE NEXT TIME, KEEP THAT DOCUMENTATION.

IF THERE IS A DECLARATION AND FEMA COMES IN YOU HAVE THAT READY TO GO AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT REIMBURSEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

>> I MIGHT ADD JUST TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, JOHN EXPLAINED THE PROCESS.

IN GRAVES COUNTY IN MAYFIELD ALONE THE ESTIMATE OF DEBRIS REMOVAL IS 2 MILLION CUBIC YARDS.

OVERALL FOR THE IMPACT AREA WAS ABOUT 4.5 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS, I'M SORRY 2 MILLION ALONE IN MAYFIELD.

AND THE COST IS ENORMOUS.

THE ESTIMATES $120 MILLION.

IT'S A MASSIVE, MASSIVE LIFT.

>> LET'S BRING TRACY BACK IN HERE.

TRACY, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO SOME OF THIS AND I KNOW THAT IF IT'S LIKE -- IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE BOWLING GREEN -- I HAVEN'T BEEN TO YOUR TOWN TO SEE BUT I'VE SEEN THIS FOOTAGE BUT I'VE SEEN AND HEARD OF THE IMPACT OF THE TORNADO -- YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF DEBRIS LAYING AROUND THERE, DON'T YOU?

>> YES, WE DO.

YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES INVOLVED AND STUFF, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WERE ACTUALLY HIT, SO FOR THEM TO HAVE TO RELOCATE AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER THE COURTHOUSES, YOU KNOW, THE COURTHOUSE, CITY HALL, POLICE STATION, FIRE STATION, EMS, ALL THAT STUFF WE HAD TO RELOCATE EVERYTHING, ALL OUR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES AND STUFF.

WE FULLY GOT THOSE BACK OPEN AND STUFF.

WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND THERE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOME PICTURES OF BEFORE AND AFTER OF WHERE THE DEBRIS HAS BEEN PICKED UP BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OUT THERE.

IT'S JUST A SLOW PROCESS.

WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE DO HAVE -- THERE'S STEPS YOU HAVE TO TO TAKE AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED PROPERLY AND STUFF FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE PROPERLY.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE A REALLY REVERSE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY.

>> HOW ARE THE PEOPLE THERE, TRACY?

YOU BEING FROM GRAVES COUNTY IN THAT AREA, HOW ARE THE PEOPLE RESPONDING?

I MEAN, ARE THEY -- DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH AND THE DEPTH AND THE SCOPE OF THIS DISASTER AND THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH, WE UNDERSTAND, WE'RE GOING TO BE PATIENT.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME THAT PROBABLY ARE MAYBE JUST A LITTLE IMPATIENT WITH THE PAPERWORK AND THE STEPS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THIS STUFF IS RECORDED AND TO LET THESE AGENCIES AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

OVERALL, WHAT'S THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN MAYFIELD?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED.

WE'VE GOT THE -- FEMA HAS SET UP HERE TO HELP PEOPLE.

THEY GET DENIAL LETTERS AND STUFF.

SO THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE'RE ALL GETTING BURNOUT, SO I STILL HAVE BEEN WORKING MY SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AND STUFF AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND JUST TRYING TO DO MY NORMAL DAILY JOB AND STUFF AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE DISASTER STUFF.

WE'RE ALL GETTING A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, FATIGUED ON IT.

WE'LL COME OUT STRONGER.

IT'S JUST WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR A STRONGER TOMORROW.

THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE.

>> WOW.

THAT'S WELL PUT.

JOHN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T MAKE THESE PROCESSES FAST ENOUGH.

IT'S WITH ANYTHING, REALLY.

ONCE YOU'RE AFFECTED, YOU WANT SOMETHING TO BE DONE BUT YOU WANT IT ON YOUR TIMETABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS DON'T WORK THAT QUICKLY.

ESPECIALLY AFTER A DISASTER OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE AGENCIES AND EVERYBODY WORKING TO THE AND VOLUNTEERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING IN THEIR TIME AND EFFORT.

SOME PEOPLE WORKING A REGULAR JOB AND THEN IF THEY'RE A FIRST RESPONDER THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR AMBULANCE SERVICE OR WHATEVER AND THEN HAD THEY FIND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, THEY'RE HELPING SOMEBODY WITH CLEANUP.

AND THEN THEY'RE WAITING FOR -- WHEN WHEN IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO SOMETHING?

WHEN AM I GOING TO GET MY RELIEF AND ALL THIS.

BUT IT IS A PROCESS THAT TAKES A WHILE.

>> IT IS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT COMFORT TO FOLKS TO HEAR THAT IT'S A PROCESS.

I THINK TRACY MENTIONED THOSE LETTERS.

THAT CAN BE DISHEARTENING TO SOMEONE WHO JUST WENT THROUGH A VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT AND THEY GET A LETTER THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE MORPHEME MA FUND, FEDERAL FUNDS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE VIEWERS AT HOME UNDERSTAND FEMA WANTS TO GET IT RIGHT.

TRACY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ARE GOING TO AFFECT YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.

WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL SO, IF SOMEONE THINKS FEMA GOT IT WRONG, WHETHER IT BE WITH A LETTER, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, IT'S IMPORTANT THEY TELL US, THEY CONTACT US, STAY IN CONTACT.

ESPECIALLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

DON'T THROW THAT LETTER AWAY.

THAT'S NOT THE FINAL ANSWER.

READ THE LETTER.

VERY OFTEN TIMES IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MAYBE WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THEIR INSURANCE PAID FOR.

FEMA CAN'T DUPLICATE BENEFITS.

IF SOMEONE HAS INSURANCE, WITH HE CAN'T DUPLICATE THAT.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING SIMPLE TWO SPOUSES BOTH REGISTERED AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT FLAGGED SOMETHING IN OUR SYSTEM.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE VERY SIMPLE THAT CAN BE FIXED IF THAT INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS FEEM MAVMENT WE WILL WORK TO GET IT RIDE.

WE HAVE THREE DISASTER COMPANIES OPEN MAYFIELD, DAWEN SO SPRINGS AND BOWLING GREEN SO FOLKS CAN GO IN PERSON IF THEY WANT ENGAGE WITH FEMA OR CALL OR USE THE WEBSITE.

>> AS THE SHOW WAS AIRING ON THE 14th, THAT'S THE LAST DAY FOR BOWLING GREEN.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER CENTERS.

>> SO THAT IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER.

HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE YET BY THE TIME THIS AIRS AND YOU SEE IT AND THE LIGHT BULB GOES OFF, REGISTER.

THERE'S STILL A POSSIBILITY WE CAN ACCEPT A LATE REGISTRATION.

THERE'S ALWAYS JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT REGISTRATION.

JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD A LETTER DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T STILL APPEAL.

YOU CAN STILL APPEAL PAST THE 14th.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE -- IT'S NOT JUST THE COMMUNITIES WE WANT TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR IT'S INDIVIDUALS.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE GOT IS ITENING WRO, PERSONAL HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CASES WHERE OUR STAFF IN THE FIELD HAVE ENGAGED WITH A SURVIVOR WHO THOUGHT, HEY FEMA GOT IT WRONG, AND IT GOT FIXED.

DON'T -- I KNOW IT'S DISCOURAGING BUT WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.

WE NEED YOU TO WORK WITH US, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S MISSING DOCUMENTATION OR QUESTIONS WE NEED ANSWERED.

WE'LL DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE THAT RIGHT.

>> DIRECTOR, I KNOW THAT YOUR LOCAL EMs OR WORKING IN EVERY COUNTY TO HELP IN THIS REGARD.

I MEAN, A LOT OF THEM ALREADY HAVE CONNECTIONS NOT ONLY TO FEMA BUT TO LOCAL AGENCIES LIKE UNITED WAY, AMERICAN RED CROSS, UNITED WAY THAT THEY CAN BE PUT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND TRY TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE OR AT LEAST FOR IS SOMEONE WHO IS LIKE, I TRIED TO DO THIS, I TRIED TO DO THAT, IT DIDN'T WORK, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

YOUR EMs ARE TRAINED TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND PEOPLE TO HELP THEM.

>> THEY ARE AND YOU KNOW TRACY BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT.

WE ARE NOW AT THE 90-DAY MARK.

THERE'S FRUSTRATION EVERYWHERE.

AND IT'S NOTED AND PEOPLE TYPICALLY NEED TO WORK THROUGH THAT, AND THERE ARE AVENUES THAT ASSIST, AND FOR ONE CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO MORATORIUM ON BAD THINGS HAPPENING BUT THIS IS A RESILIENT COMMUNITY AND THESE ARE RESILIENT COUNTIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE WITH TRACY AND MAYFIELD, DAWSON SPRINGS WAS HIT AS HARD AND MAYBE SUFFERED MORE BEING A SMALLER COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN MOVE ON DOWN THE LINE.

THE GREAT THING IS AND YOU POINTED IT OUT OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICES ARE STILL THERE.

BOTH FAITH-BASED AND NONPROFIT ARE STILL THERE.

OUR EM DIRECTORS ON THE GROUND HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE IN DIRECTING THOSE TO SERVICES.

IT IS FRUSTRATING.

WE CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THE FRUSTRATION.

IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A HARD ROAD.

THE GOOD THING IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK UNTIL LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

THERE'S A IS YOUR RAY IF YOU GO ON KY.GOV THERE'S SURVEY WHERE OUR SURVIVORS CAN REGISTER FOR OTHER SERVICES.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT NONCONGREGATE SHELTERING AND THE GOVERNOR STRT STAD TRAVEL TRAILER PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY.

THAT SURVEY WILL TAKE YOU TO OTHER AREAS.

AS JOHN INDICATED, MAYBE FEMA ASSISTANCE WASN'T AVAILABLE IN THIS AREA BUT THERE'S CABINET ASSISTANCE THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT THAT MAY HELP FOLKS.

IT'S A TIME OF FRUSTRATION.

THE GOVERNMENT CAN NEVER MOVE QUICK ENOUGH AND I FOR ONE WISH WE COULD ALL MOVE FASTER.

BUT THE SERVICES ARE STILL OUT THERE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS NOT A RECOVERY IN MONTHS.

THIS IS A RECOVER IN YEARS.

IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BRINGING OUR COMMUNITIES BACK AND IT'S A HOLISTIC COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT WILL DO IT.

>> I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALL TAKEN THAT STEP BACK AND MAYBE DID A LITTLE BIT OF ARM CHAIR QUARTERBACKING.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE SAYING WELL THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS, THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE WITH ANY RESPONSE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WITH ANY DISASTER.

BUT OVERALL, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND WE SEE THE FUTURE AHEAD AND WE SEE HOW RECOVERY -- YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR, YOU SAID THIS.

IT'S ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES AND ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE RESPOND AS JUST PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S WE CAN'T ALWAYS DEPEND ON AN AGENCY BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, EXACTLY WHEN WE NEED THEM.

BUT IT TAKES EVERY ONE OF US TO CHECK ON A NEIGHBOR OR JUST CHECK ON A FRIEND OR FAMILY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL OKAY IN THESE KIND OF DISASTERS BIG OR SMALL, IT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE FINAL PART OF OUR PROGRAM, PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION.

I KNOW THAT IN THE YEARS OF WORKING WITH FEMA AND WITH KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DIFFERENT PROJECTS ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO BE READY FOR THESE EVENTS.

JOHN, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR READY.GOV.

YOU HAVE SO MANY VALUABLE TOOLS TO USE THAT PEOPLE CAN USE.

BY THE WAY, WE'VE GOT A LINK TO ALL OF THAT ON THE KET WEBSITE.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP THAT INFORMATION HERE.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM, BUT AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO WAIT UNTIL THEY HEAR A TORNADO WATCH COMES OUT OR A FLOOD WATCH OR WHATEVER.

IT'S TOO LATE THEN.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHILE THE WEATHER IS QUIET TO GET THEM ACTIVATED INTO ENGAGING IN THIS.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAY HIGHLY THE WEATHER IS QUIET IN KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE HAD ONE WEEK SINCE THE TORNADOES WHERE WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE WEATHER EVENTS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SNOW EVENT COMING FRIDAY.

THAT REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A LONG TRACK E-F FOR NAID DOE DECEMBER 10.

>> BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

>> EVERYONE WAS PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS.

THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT TORNADOES.

>> DISASTERS DON'T HAPPEN AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME THAT'S CONVENIENT.

THE READY.GOV HAS A LOT OF GREAT RESOURCES ON THERE.

A WEATHER RADIO IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE.

I LIVE IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI WE HAVE A WEATHER RADIO IN OUR HOUSE.

JUST HAVING THAT, DOWNLOAD THE FEMA MAP THAT CAN GIVE YOU GOOD INFORMATION ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, TOO.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE.

EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE NOT IN A HIGH RISK AREA, SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TOWN OVER COULD AFFECT YOUR WELL-BEING.

MAYBE YOU LOSE POWER.

MAKE YOU LOSS ACCESS TO GROCERIES.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GET BY FOR THREE DAYS?

FLOOD INSURANCE IS A BIG INC.

THIS.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK, I DON'T LIVE IN HIGH RISK ZONE.

HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS AFFECTED BY FLOODS DON'T' LIVE IN HIGH RISK ZONE.

SEE IF YOU HAVE A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY.

THAT COULD SAVE A LOT OF ANGST IF A FLOOD EVENT DOES HAPPEN AND WE'RE IN KENTUCKY SO A FLOOD EVENT IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT.

THOSE NFIP POLICIES THEY DON'T NEED A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION.

THOSE ARE INSURANCE POLICIES.

THOSE ARE TO PEACE OF MIND FOR FOLKS.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO VISIT THE WEBSITE, TALK TO YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS.

KYS THAT IS GREAT THINGS TON THEIR SITE AS WELL.

THERE'S WEALTH OF INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR FOLKS.

I WOULD PUT ONE PLUG IN IF FOLKS ARE IN THE AREA WE HAVE MIDGATION STAFF IN THE RECOVERY CENTER.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO VISIT, STAFF CAN HELP GUIDE THEM WHAT OPTION THES MAY HAVE WHEN THEY REBUILD THEIR HOME OR BUSINESS.

>> DIRECTOR, USING THE TERM "MITIGATION" A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT BUT REALLY IT'S JUST DOING ALL THE STEPS NECESSARY BEFORE THE DISASTER TO HELP MAYBE NOT HAVE AT THAT DISASTER IMPACT YOU AS IT COULD.

TAKING STEPS, PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE GOING TO BE SAFE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS CHRIS, AND I'LL BRING US BACK TO A BIT OF A LEVELING.

OUR FIRST DEATH IN KENTUCKY FOR COVID WAS MARCH 6.

WE'RE AT THAT ANNIVERSARY.

AFTER COVID BEGAN WE HAD TWO DISASTERS.

2021 WE HAD THE ICE STORM, FLOOD AND THEN THE TORNADO AND WE WERE JUST DECLARED FOR JANUARY 1 OUTBREAK OF 10 ADDITIONAL TORNADOES.

KENTUCKY IS NO -- IS NOT UNACCUSTOMED TO DISASTERS.

WE NEED TO URGE EVERYONE WITHIN VIEWING DISTANCE TO MAKE THAT PLAN AND AS MIKE INDICATED AND JOHN FURTHERED, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE EVENT IS, WHETHER IT'S A FLOOD, A TORNADO, WILDFIRE, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU CAN ADJUST THE PLAN TO WHATEVER THE DISASTER IS COMING.

THE OTHER PART OF MITIGATION THAT IS A POSITIVE FROM -- FROM EVERY FEEM IN A DECLARATION THIS WILL BE A LARGE ONE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS REIMBURSED TO OUR GOVERNMENTS THROUGH COUNTY SUBMISSIONS THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR MITIGATION PROJECTS AND OUR RECOVERY BRANCH IS REACHING OUT TO ALL 23 COUNTIES TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE OUT THERE AND TO URGE THEM TO BEGIN DEVELOPING LONG-TERM PROJECTS.

SOME OF THEM TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO FINISH BUT THE PROJECT WON'T EVER START IF YOU DON'T PLAN IT AND MAKE GOOD USE OF THAT FUNDING.

SO THAT'S OUT THERE AND THAT WILL BE COMING TO COMMUNITIES AS THEY ASK.

>> MICHAEL, I'M SURE THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SEVERE WEATHER CLASSES, TRAINING, PEOPLE HOW TO BE MORE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE OLD STOPLIGHT ANALOGY THERE SHOULD BE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL HERE BECAUSE IT'S A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AND SOMETIMES THE SIGNAL DOESN'T GO UP UNTIL SOMEBODY -- IT'S A FATALITY OR SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS.

OH, YES, A LIGHT SHOULD GO UP HERE.

SO IT'S MORE REACTIVE THAN PROACTIVE BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BE MORE AWARE AND BE BETTER PREPARED AND BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO EVERY MARCH, APRIL, MAY TIMEFRAME WE OFFER SPOTTER QUESTIONS, SEVERE WEATHER CLASSES TO TEACH FOLKS WITH THEY ARE SAFETY AS WELL AS HOW TO IDENTIFY STORM STRUCTURES SO IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE AND SEE CLOUDS THAT LOOK SCARY, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS.

IT'S ALREADY MENTIONED KENTUCKY IS NO STRANGER TO DISASSER WE WORK REALLY HARD WITH THE WEATHER SERVICE AND PARTNERING WITH FEMAND A KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO MAKE OURSELVES AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO I CAN MA KENTUCKY WEATHERPROOF BUT WE CAN BE WEATHER READY.

WE DO THAT AHEAD OF TIME WITH PROPER PLANNING, READY.GOV IS A GREAT RESOURCE STEP BY STEP WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING, AFTER EVENTS.

YOU CAN GO TO WE ARE THEY ARE.TBOF/SAFETY.

FLOODING, WE -- BEFORE AND DURING AND AFTER EVENTS THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE TO CHECK OUT AND MAKE PLANS WHILE THE WEATHER IS SOMEWHAT QUIET.

>> THAT'S THE TAKEAWAY THAT WE ARE WANTING YOU AT HOME FROM THIS PROGRAM, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW KENTUCKY HAS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I MEAN THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE DON'T BUT AS YOU JUST SAW AND POINTED OUT, DIRECTOR, JUST WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS WE HAVE GONE FROM BIG ICE, BIG SNOW, TORNADOES, TWICE, FLOODS, KENTUCKY IS NOTORIOUS FOR FLOODING.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT'S OUR NUMBER 1 KILLER.

>> TTION THE NUMBER UN ONE KILL NER KENTUCKY.

>> WE FLOOD 12 MONTHS A YEAR IN KENTUCKY.

>> IT'S A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE SIDE OF THE STATE THAT'S FLAT, OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE WHERE YOU'VE GOT HILLS AND VALLEYS.

YOU GET RUNOFF AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE, KNOWING WHERE YOU LIVE, KNOWING THINGS LIKE THE WAY RIVERS RUN AND STREAMS RUN, YES, THAT ROAD FLOODS ANY TIME THERE'S A BIG RAIN.

I SHOULD NOT CROSS OVER A FLOODED ROADWAY.

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY NOW AND A CULTURE THAT IS IMPATIENT.

WE HAVE TO ADMIT IT.

WE ALL GET IMPATIENT.

OF I'M JUST TRYING TO GET HOME.

I'VE LIVED ON THIS ROAD FOR 30 YEARS.

I KNOW HOW DEEP THE WATER IS.

YOU'RE ASSUMING A LOT WHEN YOU DO THAT AND YOU'RE TAKING YOUR LIFE AND YOUR A TAKING OTHERS LIVES IN YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE GOT A FAMILY.

THEN IF YOU GET STUCK OR IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE RESCUED, YOU'RE GETTING FIRST RESPONDERS INVOLVED, YOU'RE GETTING EVENTUALLY KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INVOLVED.

YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED TO WHERE YOU MADE THAT ONE MISTAKE AND YOU DIDN'T PLAN AND YOU DIDN'T PREPARE AND NOW YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT.

>> FOLKS OFTEN UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF MOVING WATER.

IT ONLY TAKES A MINIMUM OF 6 INCHES TO KNOCK AN ADULT OF OFF THEIR FEET AND 12 INCHES TO MOVE A CAR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OR NOT OFF THE ROADWAY.

WATER IS INCREDIBLE.

THE POWER IT HAS AND FOLKS SHOULD NEVER CROSS FAST-MOVING WATER.

>> IT'S SOMETHING AGAIN WE ASSUME THAT WE THINK WE CAN TACKLE BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU SHOULD.

TRACY, I WILL BRING YOU BACK IN ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE GO.

HAVE YOU HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY -- I KNOW THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW IS JUST GETTING PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET, GETTING BUSINESSES OPEN AGAIN, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE A PLACE TO LIVE AND A PLACE TO JUST WHERE THEY CAN FEEL SAFE, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS AND JUST KNOWING HOW YOU RESPONDED WITH THIS DISASTER, YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT.

YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING IN YOUR -- AND YOUR MEUNT IS MORE THAN LIKELY MORE AWARE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH THEY THOUGHT MAYBE ITS GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

TELL ME THE TEMPERAMENT OF THOSE THAT ARE WARNING CLASSES, SPOTTER CLASSES AND WANT BE TO BE TRAINED HOW DO THIS.

MAYBE YOU'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE SAY, BOY, I WOULD LOVE TO BE A FIRST RESPONDER.

I WANT TO HELP IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION, SHOULD IT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY WITH MY HUSBAND BE THE R BEING THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE VOLUNTEER, WE RECENTLY HAD JUST THREE PEOPLE SIGN UP.

AND THE OTHER VOLUNTEER SERVICES ARE HAVING PEOPLE SIGN UP.

SO THERE IS A RESPONSE OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER.

I DID LAST YEAR, ONE OF MY GOALS WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB OVER, WHICH IS FIXING TO COME UP MY THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY I WANTED TO DO ONE THE FEMA CLASSES, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM, COVID PUT ME BACK.

LAST YEAR I STARTED IN MY FIRST CLASS IN THE SOUTH END OF THE COUNTY.

WE HAD ABOUT 35 TO 40 -- ACTUALLY FINISH THE CLASS AND THEY CAME OUT DURING THE TORNADO AND WORKED ALL NIGHT HELPING TO THE SAFETY, CHECKING HOUSES.

THINGS THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD ACTUALLY EVER DO, THEY DID.

SO WE HAVE A HIGH RESPONSE TO GO AHEAD AND START A CLASS IN THE NORTH END.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET THAT GOING IN THE NEXT MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF.

THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DOING THE CERT PROGRAM FOR THE TEAM.

THE FEMA PROGRAM IS OUT THERE.

A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ALREADY HAVE IT GOING AND IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

IT TEACHES PEOPLE BASIC FIRST AID.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOU CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ANY GOOD TO ANYBODY IF YOU'RE TIRED, WORN OUT.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, HAVE SOME DOWN TIME, REFOCUS, BE FRESH, GET IN THERE AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I TELL YOU, TRACY, WE ARE ALL HERE SMILING AT WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I KNOW JOHN IS SMILING BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED TAKING THE FEMA CLASSES CERT IS SOMETHING EVERY DAY PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED IN.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT.

TELL US BRIEFLY HOW PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO VOLUNTEER CAN BE INVOLVED.

>> TRACY BRINGS UP A GREAT ISSUE.

I APPRECIATE THE SHOUT OUT TO FEMA BUT THAT WOULDN'T WORK WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE TRACY.

PUBLICIZING IT, PUTTING IT ON AND SOCIALIZING AND THEN HAVING THOSE FOLKS ENGAGE AS SHE MENTIONED THE NIGHT OF.

MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE CHECK THE -- CONTACT EMERGENCY MANAGER.

THERE'S PROBABLY A WEALTH OF CLASSES, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR INDIVIDUALS EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT FEMA COURSE THAT IS THEY CAN PROVIDE HELP AND DO THAT NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR ACTION AHEAD OF THE NEXT EVENT.

>> DIRECTOR DOSSETT, I KNOW YOU'VE ALWAYS NEEDED PEOPLE BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER, YOU NEED PEOPLE.

>> WE DO.

IT IS A CONSTANT NEED AND VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO.

THE FOLKS IN OUR WORLD, IN OUR BUSINESS REALIZE THAT OUT OF BAD THINGS MANY TIMES COME GOOD THINGS.

I WILL TELL YOU OUT THE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADO EVENT BECOMES A RENEWED RESILIENCE IN KENTUCKIANS.

IT'S NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR, COUNTIES HELPING COUNTIES.

A RESILIENCE THAT IS WELL-NEEDED AND I'M PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS RESPONSE.

>> MICHAEL, I KNOW THAT YOU NEED SPOTTERS.

YOU NEED PEOPLE TO CALL YOU WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING WEATHER-WISE IN THE COMMUNITY.

RADAR CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING.

>> RADAR IS GREAT BUT IT DOES HAVE ITS LIMITATIONS, TOO.

WE REALLY LOVE OUR EYES ON THE GROUND.

PICTURES, PHONE CALLS, WE'REN 0 SOCIAL MEDIA.

FIND YOUR LOCAL OFFICE AND PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS.

WE LOVE THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING I HOPE FOR YOU AT HOME IT HAS BEEN THAT.

I WANT TO THANK JOHN BROGAN, FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER MORPHEME IN A. MICHAEL KOCHASIC METEOROLOGIST FOR LOUISVILLE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES.

MICHAEL DOSSETT RETIRING SIR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AT KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE YEARS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR -- THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME ON THE SHOW SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE GOAN.

OF COURSE -- BEING HERE AGAIN.

TRACY WARNER IN MAYFIELD, THANK YOU TRACY FOR TAKING TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND YOUR STORIES THAT YOU SHARED FROM MAYFIELD JUST HEARTBREAKING JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES TO HELP WITH RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE WESTERN KY TORNADOES PLEASE VISIT KET.ORG/KENTUCKY-TORNADOES THERE YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION IF YOU WANT TO AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, WE SEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO EVERYONE WHO SUFFERED LOSS FROM THE STORMS - AND TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE STILL, AND WILL BE PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER.

STAY KENTUCKY STRONG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.