Locals help out tornado victims

While only minor damage was reported in Washington County after Friday’s severe weather scare, many parts of the state weren’t so lucky.

As of Monday afternoon, 9,000 Kentucky residents were still without electricity due to storm damage.
Kentucky Emergency Management reported that tornadoes were spotted in 19 different counties, with 27 additional counties reporting damage.
As of Monday, 21 fatalities had been reported.
Two locals, Ronnie Huntsberger and Jeff McCowan, traveled to West Liberty and parts of Morgan County over the weekend to help out.
Huntsberger and McCowan work with Washington County Rescue.
Kathi Huntsberger, Ronnie’s wife, is organizing donations to send to tornado victims in Morgan County.
The devastation was terrible, Ronnie said.
“The TV shows what it’s like, but you can’t feel it until you’re there,” he said. “As far as you could see, there was debris scattered through the woods.”
Kathi said residents in West Liberty were unable to access bank accounts, so even if they had money, they couldn’t get to it.
Huntsberger said help is needed all over, from volunteering at shelters to helping stretch tarps over roofs.
She said if people were looking to do more than just donate items, her husband is organizing relief efforts on upcoming weekends.
“Ronnie is going to try to get some people together to preserve what they have left, or even a few weeks from now, to help build back some of the stuff,” she said.
Huntsberger said donations are being accepted at the River of Life and The Springfield Sun office.
The Washington County Public Library will also serve as a collection point for those wishing to donate.
Washington County High School will be accepting donations through FRYSC.
Items that were needed when the locals left West Liberty on Sunday were tarps, heavy plastic, shovels, sledge hammers, pry bars, hard hats, gloves, dust masks, claw hammers and anything construction-related.
Also needed were new socks and undergarments for people of all ages.
“These people have nothing,” Ronnie said. “Their stuff has been scattered for miles.”
Ronnie said people that can cook are also welcome in West Liberty.
Kathi said card games, board games or anything to keep a child occupied is also needed for people staying in shelters.
Ronnie said Morgan County’s Judge-Executive, Tim Conley, told him that churches over 100 years old and every mom-and-pop business were destroyed by the tornadoes.
Huntsberger said the schools were also collecting donations for the cause.
For more information about the local efforts, contact Kathi at (859) 805-1271.
Kentucky State Police also released a list of items in need. State police are accepting items at posts and headquarters.
Post 15 serves Washington County, and is stationed in Columbia.
Items needed include:
1.  Leather gloves
2.  Shovels
3.  Rakes
4.  Thermoses
5.  Batteries
6.  Flashlights
7.  Coffee pots
8.  Antibiotic cream
9.  Band-aids
10. First aid kits
11. Soap
12. Body wash
13. Bottled hand soap/hand sanitizer
14. Deodorant
15. Feminine products
16.Shampoo/cream rinse
17.Shaving cream/razors
18.Toothbrushes/toothpaste
19.Bath towels/washcloths
20. Baby formula
21. Baby food
22.Baby diapers (all sizes)
23. Baby blankets
24. Bottles
25. Toilet paper
26. Styrofoam cups
27. Cleaning supplies such as bleach, mops, brooms and buckets
28. Laundry detergent
29. Plastic goods (cups and cutlery)
30. Paper goods (plates, napkins, towels and bowls)
31.Disposable gloves (rubber or latex)
32.Trash bags (all sizes)
33. Cat and dog food
34. Plastic containers
35. Blankets
36. Gift cards
37. Bottled water
38.Non-perishable food items