Tornado Response

Thank you in your interest in offering assistance in the aftermath of the storms on December 10-11, 2021. Unless you are part of an organized response crew, please do not go to visit the affected areas at this time. Emergency response officials need your cooperation to stay out of the areas until rescue operations and assessments are complete; many roads are still closed and most impacted areas are without power and water. While Mayfield was among the hardest hit, the storm raged over 200 miles in Kentucky. There is significant damage in eighteen (18) counties, with some of the worst destruction in Caldwell Co., Graves Co., Hopkins Co., Marshall Co., Muhlenberg Co., Taylor Co. and Warren Co.

If you wish to help or need assistance following the storm, there are some resources below and in the sidebars. Please note that recovery from this event is going to be a long process with need for continued community support in the coming months.

General Needs

To donate needed supplies, please reach out in your community to the UK Extension Office, local church organizations, fire stations, or schools for supply drops. The supplies being requested at this time include:

  • Storage bins and laundry baskets so people can store personal items recovered from the debris
  • Fuel gift cards
  • Food gift cards
  • Supply gift cards
  • Tarps
  • Dog and cat food
  • Cat litter
  • Water
  • Baby diapers
  • Formula/food
  • Common toiletries
  • Blankets

Small Animal Needs

The KBVE is working closely with the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) and the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) in Louisville to coordinate a response to small animal needs. KHS is taking the lead on animal placement. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Survival & Safety Emergency Response Team (ASSERT) are engaged with immediate needs on the ground.

    Donation of Supplies:
  • Contact Debra Hamelback, KVMA Executive Director at info@kvma.org
  • There has been an outpouring of initial supply donations, for which the people and animals of Kentucky are so grateful: THANK YOU!
  • There will be a sustaining need for supply donations in the coming months
    Donation of Veterinary Services:
  • Contact KBVE at Vet@ky.gov to be added to a list of volunteers
    Interest in fostering or adoption of animals:
  • Watch this space for more information coming soon from KHS

Large Animal/Livestock/Agricultural Needs

The Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) should be contacted with questions about large animal transport and disease response.

Learn more about the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) tornado response and partnerships during the disaster response.

The program works by connecting farmers to needed resources. Farmers in the impacted areas should contact their County Extension Office, which will collect a list of needs from producers for their operation and provide that information to KDA. KDA will then coordinate with farm organizations, potential donors and others to match the requested need with the donor of the items. This can include immediate needs such as hay or feed to longer-term items such as fencing material. KDA will connect donors with the local Extension contact to work out the delivery and logistics of getting the items to that County. The County Extension Office will then manage the distribution to their farmers within their County.

Agricultural Supply Needs - listed by County