The devastation left in the wake of tornadoes late Friday night and early Saturday morning in the Midwest has prompted the assistance of many disaster and emergency response organizations, including the Red Cross.
Pulaski County’s Sherry Fagner, who works with the Red Cross, has mobilized to the western Kentucky area where she is assessing needs and working as a feeding manager.
“Right now, on the ground, there are a lot of local vendors that have stepped up,” explained Fagner. “We are looking for the long-term needs and we will probably start some mobile feeding and fixed feeding as of Wednesday this week.”
She stated that there is minimal damage where she is stationed, but she saw a good amount of damage on the way to her location as she traveled Sunday.
Monday was the first day where assessments took place, but Fagner said needs are great for certain donations.
Fagner commented, “I would encourage people to donate blood. Right now blood shortages are everywhere and the need is truly real. Those needs can help here on the ground as well as locally. Mainly, the need is a financial need for your favorite charity. Reach out to them and see what they are actually needing. The communities are overwhelmed with stuff at the moment that people have donated, but getting that financial piece to organizations that can actually get out there and get the actual items that are truly needed into the hands of our clients.”
Volunteers are also needed for the Red Cross and more information on that can be found at www.redcross.org.
Fagner will be in the field for a couple of weeks as volunteers and residents begin to piece together the immediate needs and start on long-term plans for recovery.
Fagner has worked with emergency response plans and efforts in Pulaski County for many years which makes her assistance with the Red Cross that more valuable. Fagner said she will have more updates available for WKVI News in the next few days.
