MAYFIELD, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2021) – The Regional Emergency Operations Center at Mayfield is coordinating a multi-agency response to the catastrophic tornado that caused major damage in Mayfield/Graves County and areas of Marshall County.
The EOC is continuing to refine contact numbers and drop-off locations for donations and points of contact for families in need of assistance.
Please review the following information as there are significant changes from today’s situational assessment that include specific phone numbers and other information that will be helpful to the public.
All information about ongoing efforts coordinated by the EOC will be posted to the Mayfield-Graves County Emergency Management Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/Graves-County-Office-of-Emergency-Management.
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue teams at the Candle Factory will hold a media briefing at 3 p.m., CST, today, at the factory site.
POD- Point of Distribution for Supplies (NEW)
Distribution points for water, food, and other supplies are being developed. The EOC hopes to have an announcement on Tuesday of specific locations. The POD locations will offer drive-through pick-up that will supply families and individuals with enough supplies for approximately three days. Each family will then rotate through to receive another three day supply. Again, specific locations for these drive-through supply centers will be announced on Tuesday.
No Burning in the City of Mayfield (NEW)
A Mayfield city ordinance prohibits burning of debris. No burn permits will be issued. There is concern about the possibility of asbestos and other hazardous materials intermingled with limbs and other debris. Any debris fires will be immediately extinguished and the owner cited for illegal burning. All debris should be hauled to the landfill.
Welfare Checks
Crews are working along the tornado corridor conducting welfare checks on people who are in their homes but have no power. These crews will have water and some food supplies for distribution. By this time any food stored in refrigerators that are without power is ruined and should not be consumed.
Food and Supply Dropoff Locations
A food, supply, and cash donation drop-off has been established at Heartland Worship Center off I-24 Exit 7 in Paducah.
Donations
Individuals who have material donations or wish to donate cash may call 270-727-5114.
Mayfield-Graves County Tornado Relief Fund
An account to handle cash donations has been set up through Independence Bank. Donations may be directed to the fund via Independence Bank, P.O. Box 9, Fancy Farm, Kentucky 42034 or you can fill out a Google Forms document at https://bit.ly/graveskydonate. An electronic donation system will be organized as soon as possible. This account will be used to assist individuals in the tornado corridor.
Volunteers – General
At this time the response effort has sufficient volunteers. However, there will be need for volunteers in coming weeks as the recovery advances. Volunteers should be part of an organized group that has a specific mission in mind. In the coming weeks volunteers will be needed to assist individual home and business owners with cleanup efforts. Groups who are organizing volunteers to assist with cleanup efforts in coming weeks should call the Tornado Volunteer Hotline at 270-727-5114 to be directed to a Google Forms site to provide information on the number of volunteers in your group, types of assistance you can provide, and times your group can be available.
Volunteers- Medical
There is a need for a shelter directed at individuals with medial needs. A location for this site is under development. Volunteers with medial skills may call 270-804-1742 to contact the health department for info.
Transportation (Updated)
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 1 crews from Ballard, McCracken, Crittenden, and Livingston counties are on-site assisting the Graves County Highway Maintenance Crew with efforts to clear as many city streets and county roads as possible over the next week. The county road departments from Graves County and Ballard County are also providing personnel and equipment. They are working closely with local utility personnel to assure the safety of crews and the public when power lines are encountered. This project is about 50 percent complete. Initially, crews will only remove material along the roadway and sidewalks. Removal of debris from private property will wait until later. Efforts are now focused on clearing streets to facilitate a damage assessment survey. Streets where crews are working will be closed to all traffic as required. Motorists should avoid travel downtown unless they are directly involved in recovery efforts. We would like to emphasize that this operation is for street clearing only. Efforts to remove debris from private property to FEMA standards will be organized at a later date.
Photo Documentation for Insurance and FEMA
Prior to removing any debris from their property, residents with tornado damage should take photos to have for insurance documentation. These photos will also assist community leaders as they seek disaster assistance from FEMA and other agencies.
Traffic Signals
Due to power outages we have a number of traffic signals out of service across the region. 4-Way Stop signs have been placed at these intersections. There have been a number of crashes around the region at these locations when drivers did not exercise patience. When you encounter a 4-Way Stop use appropriate caution. Look and look again before entering the intersection.
Family Unification
His House Church is establishing a center to assist those with missing family members. The center will collect basic information to be shared with police agencies who are attempting to more accurately determine the number of missing. His House Church is located at 1250 KY Hwy 303/Cuba Road, Mayfield, KY.
Electric Utilities
West KY RECC reports 80 percent of their customers now have power. However, more than 150 utility poles are damaged or destroyed. Some substantial progress has been made toward restoring power. Initially, nine of the system’s 13 sub stations were damaged or otherwise not energized. Today, power was restored to all but two of the sub stations. Those are awaiting power to be restored to the TVA transmission lines that supply them. Customers may check the WKRECC Facebook page for more info. WKRECC has 25 mutual-aid crews on-site to assist with restoring power – an effort that could take a week or more to complete. Each crew will be escorted by a local utility representative. WKRECC crews and emergency response crews will be assisting Mayfield Electric & Water on Monday. A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) survey of cross-country transmission lines indicates there are some significant transmission issues. Crews are mobilizing- there is no estimated repair schedule.
Water Utilities
The City of Mayfield is under a boil water order that will likely last at least a week or more. With use of generators to operate pumps, the city is producing water at a trickle rate to provide flow for basic use. Residents are urged to conserve water until normal water production capacity is restored. The boil order will remain in place until appropriate water production and pressure can be restored.
Security (Updated)
50 National Guard members are on-site to assist law enforcement with security. More are expected to arrive on Monday. There is a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew for Mayfield and parts of Graves County impacted by the tornado. Police will aggressively enforce this curfew. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has provided 19 additional officers to support local law enforcement activities.
Medical Services
Jackson Purchase Medical Center is at capacity. Additional ambulances will be stationed at the hospital to assist with patient transfers should the need arise.
Special Note on Use of Generators
Homeowners using generators should be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep generators away from windows and doors. Use caution when fueling to avoid the opportunity for fire. Use caution to prevent generators from back feeding along power lines. Homeowners should also be aware of the hazards associated with the use of unvented space heater and other alternate heat sources that can create hazardous conditions or cause fire. Please use extra caution.
Hazardous Materials (NEW)
If you encounter hazardous waste materials during clean-up efforts call the Tornado Recovery Hotline at 270-727-5114. There are some canisters of hazardous materials that were carried off by the tornado. Homeowners should be alert for these containers intermingled with limbs and other debris.
Additional Assistance
Counseling teams will be available for families of victims and those who are in need of trauma counseling due to their experiences during the tornado. A mechanism for contacting the teams is being developed.
Medication and Package Deliveries
Fed Ex and UPS have deliveries of medication and other packages that would normally go to addresses within the damage corridor. They have moved their pick-up location to a lot next to the Linwood Chevrolet dealership on U.S. 45 just north of the Interstate 69 Mayfield Exit 25 Interchange. Fed Ex and UPS will notify the intended recipient through their electronic notification system as packages arrive on-site.
Medical Assistance/Medications (Updated)
Kentucky Care has established a location in front of Lowes on Paris Road in cooperation with Gibson Pharmacy to assist those who lost medications to the tornado. There is also assistance for those who lost eyeglasses and need them replaced. The eyeglass team is expected on-site today. A mobile medical clinic is also expected at this site on Wednesday to meet basic medical needs.
Senior Citizens With Health Issues in Tornado Zone
Senior Citizens who have health issues and live in the tornado corridor or are without power may be eligible to temporarily stay in a nursing home until services are restored to their home. This is for senior citizens on Medicare or Medicaid.
Mayfield City Government Pubic Meetings
By authority of Mayor Kathy O’Nan, all Mayfield City Government meetings are cancelled until further notice – most notably the Dec. 13, 2021, City Council Meeting.
Temporary Flight Restrictions
Mayfield has been issued temporary aircraft flight restrictions. This has been issued for the next four days and will likely be extended. Pilots should contact the FAA for details.
Mail Service
The U.S. Postal Service has suspended operations at the Mayfield Post Office until further notice where a portion of the roof was taken off by the tornado. Mail to post office boxes will be temporarily transferred to the main Paducah Post Office at 300 South 4th Street where pick-up is available during regular service hours. The Postal Service will attempt to set up a mail pickup point in Mayfield as soon as possible.
Shelter (Updated)
An initial assessment determined that more than 400 people are likely to seek emergency overnight shelter and many will require shelter for a week or more. Saturday night there were approximately 100 individuals who sought shelter. There is concern about families who are out side of the tornado path who are staying in their homes who do not have electricity or an alternate heat source, but may need assistance with food and other items.
The Red Cross has assisted with establishing shelters at the following locations:
First United Methodist Church
100 Church St.
Hickman, KY 42050
Justin Jackson
270-254-0261
Wingo Old Cumberland Presbyterian Church
334 Lebanon St, Wingo, KY 42088
Contact: Pastor RB Mays
270-983-0333
The Way Center
449 Lebanon Street, Wingo, KY, 42088
Contact: Pastor Ike Murphy
270-564-0699
Fancy Farm Knights of Columbus Hall
Shelter Closed
Lone Oak First Baptist Church
Shelter Converted to Housing for Workers (NEW)
3601 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42003
Contact: Pastor Hank Garner
704-699-3473
The EOC has identified a need for a shelter with support for those with medical needs. Efforts to meet this need have started.
These shelters will also feed families impacted by the storm. Additional shelters will be organized as required.
His House Church has food at their facility at 1250 KY Hwy 303/Cuba Road in Mayfield, KY. Contact the church for additional info at 270-247-7772.
The Regional EOC anticipates an update on this list sometime Tuesday morning.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police are assisting the Regional EOC by providing communication services.