A Look Back at the 1974 Tornado Response

Photo Courtesy of Capital City Museum

Former Red Cross employee Pat Badgett (left) surveys the damage at Mitchell’s Trailer Park in Western Franklin County Kentucky following an April 3, 1974 tornado. Pat’s mother lived in the park, but was luckily not at home when the tornado hit. Pat was also a longtime Red Cross board member and continues to volunteer with the Franklin County Chapter.

Several communities are hosting memorials today to mark the 40^th Anniversary of the 1974 tornado outbreak, so I thought I would take a look through our chapter archives to learn how the Red Cross responded four decades ago. One of the hardest hit areas on April 3, 1974, was right here in the Commonwealth. A total of 85 deaths were recorded for Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

The Red Cross was there during the following days, weeks and months to provide emergency assistance in the areas where folks needed help the most. Six shelters were opened to accommodate displaced families. More than 400 people sought refuge there during the first days of the relief operation. By April 8, all Red Cross shelters were closed. Even though hundreds of families were still without a home, their family, friends and neighbors opened their doors to offer shelter and comfort.

The Red Cross opened one fixed site to serve food and operated six mobile units, feeding approximately 3,200 people around the clock, including affected families, National Guardsmen and emergency workers. We also set up a babysitting service for families cleaning up and collecting what was left of their homes.

Jefferson Co. Indiana volunteer Paul Steinhardt

 

But it wasn’t just the disaster department working to support relief efforts. Every single branch of the Red Cross played a part. Three mobile first aid units monitored affected areas at all times. Service to Military Families helped locate families for frantic relatives. More than 1,500 blood donors answered the call for blood in the week following the tornado outbreak.

As I read through old chapter meeting minutes, the familiar names of key community groups were frequently mentioned including Salvation Army, National Guard, Kentucky Baptist Convention and our longtime partner, the United Way. It was then as it is today, an “all hands on deck” operation inside and outside the organization. By the close of the operation, we had served 2,900 families in our region alone and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers, donors and partners.

As we enter severe storm season, remember to create or review your family disaster plan. You can also download free Red Cross preparedness apps on floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes. Visit www.redcross.org/mobileapps for more information.

Henryville Family thankful for their lives and for community support

The following post is by Angela Nicholas, a Red Cross volunteer from the Coastal South Carolina Chapter in Myrtle Beach, SC. Angela is a former Chapter Executive and is currently a volunteer with Red Cross Public Affairs. During her time in Kentuckiana, Angela collected stories from Southern Indiana and Kentucky residents affected by the March 2 tornadoes.

Tricia Gilles smiles as she chats with sons, Caleb, 11, and Collin, 10. Mrs. Gilles has been surrounded by her family at Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital during her recuperation from injuries sustained in the March 2 tornado that destroyed their Henryville, Indiana home.

Tricia Gilles was on the job at Best Buy and not paying much attention to the weather March 2 while her husband, Darrell, who works for Kaiser Flooring in Henryville, Indiana, was listening to the storm chasers on Twitter. By late afternoon, Darrell was getting nervous about the weather and texted Tricia to say there was going to be a bad storm. She left work to pick up their three kids at school and he headed home about 3 p.m.

Relating their story from Tricia’s hospital room at Southern Indiana Rehabilitation Hospital in New Albany, Darrell said, “We knew the storm was coming. We got home and turned on the TV and I’m still not thinking tornado.” But the couple prepared anyway, piling blankets and pillows in their safe space.

“Our shelter is in a closet and we were packing it full of pillows. I went outside and it was not raining but off in the distance I could see a funnel cloud. I was hoping it would take a different path but it headed right toward us,” he said.

Tricia got the children, Caleb, 11, Collin, 10, and Mia 8, ready while Darrell watched out the window. Collin asked if he could put on his baseball helmet. He had heard on the radio on the way home from school that kids should put on their helmets if they had one.

“We tried not to freak them out,” Darrell said. “It (the tornado) was about 1,500 feet away when I knew we were taking the hit.”

Joining his family in the closet, Darrell and Tricia held on tight to the children as the house took to the air. “You lose your stomach,” Darrell said. “I was mashing them (the kids) hard as I could and the house was twisting and then landed with a loud boom.”

The family felt the blow. Dazed but awake and on his knees, Darrell said it went from pitch black to bright and it took him a few minutes to figure out where he was. The house had landed near a small lake that is usually about 60 feet away. Nothing looked the same. His neighbor’s house was half gone and their home lay in pieces around them.

“Tricia started yelling that her back hurt,” Darrel said. “I couldn’t breath and couldn’t reach her. My teeth felt strange in my mouth. The kids were all face down and not moving, nothing. Then Caleb started to move and the kids started to pop up.”

Darrell told everyone not to move and to calm down. “I’m thinking something’s got to be bad wrong with everybody. No one should walk away from that,” he said. Realizing he had to do something, Darrell worked through his pain to try to reach the neighbor’s house with the kids but he didn’t make it before the hail started. Some people ran down the hill to help as they all watched a second storm spinning. While the storm did not touch down it brought hail the size of softballs. The good Samaritans, EMT Karen Miller and her boyfriend, used a door from the house to cover Tricia with the man just having room to stick his head under the door to avoid the beating. Darrell had to use drywall to cover him and the children with Caleb getting “pretty beat up” and suffering two damaged vertebrae. Once the hail stopped the good Samaritans strapped Tricia to the door and put her in a pickup truck to get her to the hospital using their jackets to cover her. Darrell, by now going into shock from a broken sternum, 14 broken ribs, a dislocated collar bone, and broken jaw, managed to get the rest of the family into the neighbor’s house avoiding downed trees and electric lines along the way.

Mia had a severe concussion and once at the hospital had to be placed in a coma to bring her out of seizures she was suffering. She also had a lacerated liver. It was 10-year-old Collin--who had worn his baseball helmet through the storm--that suffered only a few bruises from the hail.

The family was among the thousands of people who survived the EF-4 tornado that took the lives of 38 people in Kentucky and Indiana that day. As they recover from the tragedy, the Red Cross has been there to help with their immediate emergency needs, providing food and clothing and offering mental health counseling. But Tricia said, unlike some families, they are not having nightmares.

“We have just this peace about it,” said Tricia who suffered a shattered pelvis and has undergone two surgeries since the incident occurred. “In the closet my prayer was for God to save my babies. He went above that, not only answering that prayer, but he saved us, too. Our kids don’t have to go through that devastation. There’s some reason we are here and there are people out there, the Red Cross and others who want to help. We are so thankful for the help from Red Cross and everyone. You hear all these horrible stories on the news and now this; you realize there are still good people out there, people who care.”

American Red Cross Providing Services in Affected Communities

LOUISVILLE, KY, MAR. 8, 2012 – The American Red Cross continues to provide relief to residents of Kentucky and Southern Indiana devastated by last week’s tornados.
Fifteen Red Cross emergency response vehicles are out delivering food, water, coffee and utility gloves throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. To date, over 17,000 meals and snacks have been served.

More than 330 trained Red Cross workers from across the country have come together here in Kentuckiana to assist the affected communities. Of those 330, 157 are from the Commonwealth.

 On March 9, the Red Cross will also have a truck stationed at the Monroe Township Fire Department, 315 S. Ferguson Street, Henryville, IN 47126, distributing comfort kits and supplies to affected residents.

As the American Red Cross continues to provide mobile feeding in the affected areas, the following Red Cross shelters will remain open to meet the immediate, emergency needs of those displaced.

 Indiana:          Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place, Charlestown, IN 47111

                        Chelsea Church of God, 6231 S State Road 62, Lexington, IN 47138

                        Country Lake Retreat, 815 Country Lake Road, Underwood, IN 47177

Kentucky:      Assembly Faith Church, 5578 Hwy 519, West Liberty, KY 41472

The following shelter locations are closed at this time: American Legion, Salem, IN; Morgan Community Center, Bedford, KY; Morgan Central Elementary School, West Liberty, KY; and Laurel County Fire Department, London, KY.

To support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, monetary donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.  Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

American Red Cross Shelters Remain Open

LOUISVILLE, KY, MAR. 7, 2012 – As the American Red Cross continues to provide relief to residents of Kentucky and Southern Indiana devastated by last week’s tornados, the community is showing overwhelming support. Individuals, businesses and foundations are donating to American Red Cross Disaster Relief to ensure that the immediate, emergency needs of everyone affected are met.

Eighteen Red Cross emergency response vehicles are out delivering food, water, coffee and utility gloves throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana, and to date, over 12,000 meals and snacks have been served.

As the American Red Cross continues to provide mobile feeding in the affected areas, the following Red Cross shelters will remain open to meet the immediate, emergency needs of those displaced.

Indiana:          American Legion, 209 S Main Street, Salem, IN 47167

                        Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place, Charlestown, IN 47111

                       

                        Chelsea Church of God, 6231 S State Road 62, Lexington, IN 47138

                        Country Lake Retreat, 815 Country Lake Road, Underwood, IN 47177

Kentucky:      Assembly Faith Church, 5578 Hwy 519, West Liberty, KY 41472

The following shelter locations are closed at this time: Morgan Community Center, Bedford, KY, Morgan Central Elementary School, West Liberty, KY and Laurel County Fire Department, London, KY.

To support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, monetary donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.  Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

American Red Cross Receives Community Support for Relief Efforts

LOUISVILLE, KY, MAR. 6, 2012 – As the American Red Cross continues to provide relief to residents of Kentucky and Southern Indiana devastated by last week’s tornados, the community is showing overwhelming support.  Individuals, businesses and foundations are donating to American Red Cross Disaster Relief to ensure that the immediate, emergency needs of everyone affected are met. 

The Humana Foundation has donated $150,000 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief and will do a dollar for dollar match with Humana employees who wish to donate.  Humana and other generous donors acknowledge the scale of this disaster and wish to support immediate and ongoing disaster relief services.

The Paul Ogle Foundation, based in Clark County, Ind., and The UPS Foundation have each donated $100,000 for American Red Cross Disaster Relief.  UPS is also providing logistics expertise, transportation and warehousing to local Red Cross chapters.

WAVE3 and WHAS are hosting telethons, and other media outlets are sharing with the community how they can make a financial donation to help those recovering from these storms.

To support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, monetary donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.  Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

As the American Red Cross continues to provide mobile feeding in the affected areas, the following Red Cross shelters will remain open to meet the immediate, emergency needs of those displaced.

Indiana:          American Legion, 209 S Main Street, Salem, IN 47167

                        Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place, Charlestown, IN 47111

                       

                        Chelsea Church of God, 6231 S State Road 62, Lexington, IN 47138

                        Country Lake Retreat, 815 Country Lake Road, Underwood, IN 47177

Kentucky:      Assembly Faith Church, 5578 Hwy 519, West Liberty, KY 41472

The following shelter locations are closed at this time: Morgan Community Center, Bedford, KY, Morgan Central Elementary School, West Liberty, KY and Laurel County Fire Department, London, KY.

American Red Cross Shelters Remain Open

LOUISVILLE, KY, MAR. 5, 2012 – The following American Red Cross shelters remain open in Kentucky and Indiana for those affected by this week’s storms.

American Legion

209 S Main Street

Salem, IN 47167

Charlestown High School

1 Pirate Place

Charlestown, IN 47111

                       

Chelsea Church of God

6231 S State Road 62

Lexington, IN 47138

                       

Country Lake Retreat

     815 Country Lake Road

     Underwood, IN 47177

     Morgan Central Elementary School

     3201 Hwy 460 West

     West Liberty, KY 41472

The following shelter locations are closed at this time: Morgan Community Center, Bedford, KY and Laurel County Fire Department, London, KY.

Seven Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles have been out in affected areas providing food and water to affected residents and emergency workers. Over 150 Red Cross workers are staffing shelters and are out in the field helping those in need. To date, the Red Cross has served more than 1,300 meals and snacks. The Red Cross will remain in the affected areas until all of the emergency needs are met.

People can help those affected by disasters like the Midwest tornadoes and storms, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a financial donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

American Red Cross Receives an Individual Matching Gift up to $50,000

Last week, tornado warnings were issued in more than a dozen states and damage across those states is widespread. The American Red Cross continues to distribute meals and operate shelters in Charlestown, Ind., Chelsea, Ind., Salem, Ind. and Bedford, Ky. Starting today, Louisville, KY residents, Mimi and Marshall Heuser, will match .50 cents for every dollar contributed to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services up to $50,000.

By taking advantage of this offer, your gift will enable us to help multiple families and individuals devastated by tornadoes, storms, flood waters, home fires and other large disasters. Our disaster relief program ensures that lifesaving services are available immediately to all people affected by disaster and prepares communities for disasters before they strike.

In Kentucky and Southern Indiana, this string of early spring tornadoes has had the largest local impact since the storms of 1974. This elevated tornado activity comes earlier than usual and means that the Red Cross must be prepared to respond to tornadoes and other disasters year round.

Red Cross shelters are assisting residents impacted by the storms by providing food, water, first aid and a shoulder to lean on. Red Cross volunteers and Emergency Response Vehicles have been on the scene at the hardest hit areas to provide food and water, along with clean-up supplies as people are recovering personal items and continuing clean-up of their homes.

Your donation helps with costs associated with a relief effort and supports readiness and maintenance costs required to prepare before disaster strikes. The Red Cross maintains vehicles, communications systems, warehouses, and adequate supplies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

One thing is certain. Disasters happen. The Red Cross is a charity – not a government agency – and depends upon volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its disaster relief mission. By making a donation to Disaster Relief, you empower us to provide immediate assistance to those affected by disasters down the street, across the country and around the world. You can help people affected by disasters by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. You may donate at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Contributions may also be sent to your local chapter or American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. On rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

American Red Cross Opens Shelters for Residents Affected by Storms

LOUISVILLE, KY, MAR. 2, 2012 – The American Red Cross has opened three shelters in Kentucky and Indiana for those affected by this week’s storms. The following locations are now open.
Indiana:
Charlestown High School, 1 Pirate Place Charlestown, IN 47111
LIDE White Memorial Boys and Girls Club, 1551 M.S.H. Northgate Road Madison, IN 47250

Kentucky:
Morgan Community Center, 147 Victory Avenue Bedford, KY 40006

The shelters offer a safe place to stay, food, minor first aid and a shoulder to lean on. For updated information on Red Cross shelter openings, visit www.redcross.org and click “Find a Shelter” under “How to Get Help.”

People can help those affected by disasters like the Midwest tornadoes and storms, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Local volunteer joins relief efforts in Joplin

Yet another of our Louisville Area Chapter volunteer's deployed this past weekend to help a disaster affected community. On Saturday morning Israel Pinkney, a retired Army veteran, hopped on a plane to Missouri where he will join the relief efforts in Joplin. The town was hit by a catastrophic tornado in May that took the lives of more than 150 people. Israel is now among the more than 800 Red Cross workers who have responded to the relief operation in Joplin.

This month marks Israel's one year anniversary as a Red Cross volunteer. In that short time, he has become a familiar face attending monthly meetings, volunteering at the Pegasus Parade and local health fairs, and, of course, helping respond to local disasters. During an onslaught of spring storms, Israel was deployed to Radcliff, KY where he worked in a shelter for displaced families.

While in Joplin, Israel will be part of mass care, helping provide shelter and food for those whose homes were destroyed. The Ozarks Red Cross is providing the community with frequent updates on Red Cross response. Please visit their blog for the most up to date information on Joplin relief efforts.