Clara Rice (at left) went through terrible losses when tornadoes destroyed her Kentucky home twice in just three years. Here she walks her property with Red Cross representatives.
Western Kentucky community becomes a safer place to live with storm shelters installed through a Red Cross Long-Term Recovery program.
It’s heartbreaking to lose everything you hold dear during a disaster. But for one woman in Kentucky, tragedy struck twice when she lost everything in tornadoes that hit her community just three years apart.
Clara Rice first lost her home when tornadoes hit western Kentucky in 2021. She leaned on what she learned in school ─ get to a bathtub to shelter.
“I put my grandbabies in a bathtub and placed blankets and pillows down to cushion it. I put my mama’s bible right between them. The bathtub went flying. It was laying upside down, protecting both boys. Neither one was wet nor injured,” said Clara. “The American Red Cross was one of the first on the scene at my place. They were helping me clean up, helping with gift cards, food, anything they had to offer.”
The Western Kentucky tornado in 2021 was tragically the deadliest tornado ever recorded in the United States in the month of December.
Three years later, Clara had to relive that tremendous loss when powerful tornadoes hit her community in late May of this year, and she lost her home again. Thanks to a Red Cross long-term recovery program, this time she and her family were able to ride out the tornadoes in a storm shelter instead of a bathtub.
REFUGE IN A STORM SHELTER Last fall, the Red Cross Long-Term Recovery team awarded a grant to the Community Foundation of West Kentucky to provide storm shelters in communities like Clara’s that were affected by the 2021 tornadoes. The original goal was to install 110 shelters, but due to the popularity and positive impact of the program, the number of shelters was increased to 130. It was in one of these shelters where Clara and her family gathered in May when tornadoes struck again.
“My neighbors two doors down got a storm shelter installed two months ago. That’s what we stayed in. There were 12 of us in it. The sound of the tornado coming over the shelter was the scariest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I thank the lord I had a safe place for me and my grandkids, my daughter and her boyfriend. I’m so grateful it was installed in time,” Clara said.
Several tornadoes hit Kentucky in late May and Red Cross disaster workers responded across more than 15 counties, offering support to people in need with shelter, meals, relief items and a shoulder to lean on.
Clara appreciates the ongoing support from the Red Cross. “The Red Cross has helped me in a lot of ways. Someone recently dropped off a card where I could apply for a tornado safety shelter. I’m now on the list to get one of my own. I thank them for that.” She said the Red Cross provided comfort when she needed to cry, food and water, and resources for her to call for financial help.
HELPING MAKE A COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE As the climate crisis worsens and disasters become more frequent and intense, families are depending on the Red Cross for comfort and support on a nearly continuous basis. Each year the organization responds to about 65,000 disasters of all sizes — including twice as many major disasters as a decade ago. More frequent disasters means the needs are compounding while impacted communities, like western Kentucky, have less time to recover between events.
The Red Cross begins planning how we can help impacted communities recover and become stronger even as we open shelters, serve hot meals and provide critical financial assistance. Every disaster is different, and so are the needs of each affected community.
The Red Cross works closely with local partners to create plans and coordinate recovery services to ensure people get the help they need to get back on their feet. After some disasters, like the 2021 Kentucky tornadoes, the Red Cross may also provide grants to local community organizations for specialized activities, such as repairing homes or remediating mold, or in this case, installing storm shelters. Our recovery efforts help to ensure that communities are better prepared for the next emergency.
HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by disasters like home fires, tornadoes and countless other crises by donating to support Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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