Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Tornado Response and Recovery
The problemThe December 2021 tornado caused over $25 million damage in Ohio Co. Even though it spared the major population areas in the county, the tornado cut a 35 mile long path across the agricultural areas of the county – destroying houses, barns, poultry houses, grain storage systems, fences, trees, etc… As the tornado traveled southwest to northeast across the county, around 75 farms were impacted.The educational program responseThe Ohio County Extension Service assisted in re
Author: John Tucker
After the December 10th 2021 Tornado left a path of devastation and destruction through Hickman County and much of the state of Kentucky, the Hickman County community was left picking up the pieces. The Extension office was there to lend support and a helping hand showing that we often fill a missing piece of the community puzzle. After the initial recovery was assessed, a long-term plan was needed, and the Long-Term Recovery Organization was formed, with the Extension office having
Author: Keenan Bishop
The Franklin County Cattlemen's Association teamed up with a Representative from Eastern Kentucky to help feed a community affected by the flooding. The County Judge in Hindman worked to narrow down a date and location. Six members traveled to Hindman with donated rib-eyes, hamburgers, hotdogs, water and chips. They served over 425 hot meals to families in the area affected by flooding.
Author: Brittany Osborne
When powerful tornadoes ripped through Western Kentucky, vital communication networks went down. To help get the region’s first responders, government, and emergency management officials back online, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service worked with the Starlink team at SpaceX. Starlink provided kits which use advanced satellites in a low orbit to enable high-data-rate internet, in strategic Western Kentucky locations. Starlink has internet relay satellites around t
After the December 10th, 2021 tornado left a path of devastation and destruction through Hickman County and much of the state of Kentucky, the Hickman County Community was left picking up the pieces. The Extension office was there to lend support and a helping hand. After the initial recovery was assessed and completed, a long-term plan was needed. The Long-Term Recovery Organization was formed with the Extension office having a place on that board. Through this organizat
Author: Raul Villanueva
The University of Kentucky’s Research and Education Center at Princeton will soon start the rebuilding of its facilities after the total devastation caused by the tornado of December 10, 2021. Meanwhile, research and extension programs are waiting for temporary laboratories to return to full commitment work with our clientele. Operations at the entomology program, along with most programs, were totally interrupted due to the loss of laboratories, and infrastructure. A few days after this c
Immediately after the tornado that destroyed all the facilities of the Research and Education Center at Princeton on December 10, 2021, my program and employees (two Research analyst, and a Research technician) collaboratively started to work to continue our entomology program in 2022, surveying wheat field, collecting grains to search for stored insects, set up a temporary mini lab at the garage of the Lyon Co. extension office. In the 2022 spring, entomology team, planted and grew hemp in 20 L
Author: Shane Bogle
Almost a year after the devastating tornado tore through Princeton, KY, the community transformation has been a positive one. A locally led recovery team has focused on the immediate needs, but at the same time with forethought to facilitate the long term sustainability of a thriving community. Caldwell County Extension has been honored to set on the Caldwell County Long Term Recovery Team and contribute to multiple areas of recovery. A noticeable consequence of the tornado is the massive
Author: John Fourqurean
On December 10, 2021, a violent tornado moved across Western Kentucky, producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns, including Mayfield, Princeton, Dawson Springs, Barnsley and Bremen.[1] Crossing through eleven counties of the Jackson Purchase and Western Coal Field regions during its lifespan, the tornado was exceptionally long-tracked, traveling a total of 165.7 miles. It was the deadliest and longest-tracked tornado in an outbreak that pro
