After the December 10^th 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 a seat on the board.

The Hickman County Long Term Recovery Organization (LTRO) was formed with “the mission to assist our neighbors to create individual recovery plans and give them the tools to succeed in those plans with the assistance of community partners and generous grants”.  Even 18 months after the tornado, we continue to have 6 open cases through the organization, however, 12 have been closed.  In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a second home is under construction in the county.  

The Extension office has also been able to host community events, partnering with the Hickman County Emergency Management to bring in a local Meteorologist to put on a “Surviving the Storm” and disaster preparedness meeting.  We were also able to partner with the Hickman County Emergency Management and Red Cross to bring a free weather radio event to the county where we gave away 40+ weather radios at that meeting.