One Year Ago...
Eastern Kentuckians Still Picking Up the Pieces from Last Year's Devastating Tornadoes and Storms

March 2, 2012 will always be a day that will remain forever intrenched in the minds and hearts of Kentuckians, especially right her in our own backyards. On that day, one year ago, Eastern Kentucky was hit by a powerful Tornado that brought with it destruction, unimaginable to everyone, who always had that thought in their minds that it can never happen here, not to us. We were all wrong! Their were actually 2 seperate tornados that bullied their way through our area. One tornado struck the area of Rt 172 in Morgan Co and continued into Johnson Co. communites of Reb Bush, Keaton, Flat Gap, Martha, and Blaine and on into Lawrence Co. Leaving with it uprootedtrees, downed power lines and leveling houses, barns and businesses. In Morgan Co. West Liberty was left with piles and piles of brick, because the town was completely destroyed. The courthouse, city hall, much of downtown reduced to rubble.Only first responders were allowed in to keep possible looters out, and to give search and rescue teams and k-9 crews the room to look for the missing, building by building.

The 2nd tornado left a path of destruction from Magoffin Co.to Johnson Co and into Martin Co. Most of the damage in Johnson County was in the area along Middle Fork Road, Green Rock, Denver over into West Van Lear traveling along Rt 3 into Martin Co. In Magoffin Co. this 2nd tornado did extensive damage, devastating building after building, business after business, home after home along the Mountain Parkway. Officials in Johnson Co.say the storms are blamed for two deaths on Middle Fork Road, 20 year old Gregory Perry and 16 year old Sean Shepherd and other deaths and numerous injuries reported in Morgan Co. as State police say some of the fatalities happened out in the county, in torn apart homes.

Still to this day cleanup is continuing, slowly our communites are rising back up, fighting to show all that Eastern Kentucky people will rebuild and strive once again. So with this one year anniversary, Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed March 2013 as Severe Weather Awarness Month in Kentucky. Gov. Beshear urges all public and private institutions, as well as residents, to note its observance and take necessary actions to prepare and protect our people and property that could be threatened as a result of severe storms. All Kentuckians are encouraged to participate in the 2013 Statewide Tornado Safety Drill to be held on Tuesday, March 5, at approximately 10:07 a.m.

Be prepared and be alert when storms are predicted and occur in our area. Let the memories of last year keep us all aware of what can happen and let's be ready when mother nature decides to strike once again. We've all heard it, "a tornado can never hit here", now we all know anything is possible and we need to be ready.