LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – As the sun came up Saturday morning in Laurel County, the folks who live there were finally able to see the full scale of the devastation – homes wiped out, cars crushed beyond recognition, and lives completely turned upside down.
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“We don’t have anything, technically. It’s destroyed. I don’t even know where we’re gonna sleep at the moment,” said Tina Carnes.
For Carnes, this isn’t her first time dealing with severe weather at her home off Old Whitley Road.
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Straight line winds damaged her home 17 years ago, resulting in $50,000 in repairs, but this time, the damage goes far beyond fixing.
“Thank God almighty, my family is okay. They didn’t get hurt, everybody is alive and well, they all got in the closet,” she said.
Usually, Carnes is the one helping others.
She is the CEO of Kentucky Neighbors in Need, Inc., an organization that helps the unhoused community.
She says she was actually in Pike County, taking part in a program that helps those facing natural disasters, while the tornado took out her home.
She never would’ve imagined coming back home; she’d be the one needing help now.
“It’s done a 180 on me. I need help right now. I’ve lost everything,” Carnes said.
She says what she also needs is help for her organization so they can help others who are without a home right now, but she also needs assistance finding her dog.
“I think my Sadie girl, I think she’s buried in there, and I can’t get people to come and clear out the debris to get to her,” Carnes said.
Over on Court Road, Tonya Poindexter says her home and wildlife rescue were damaged, wiping out the electricity and all the food for her animals.
“I mean, I honestly thought we were going to die, I really did,” Poindexter said.
Poindexter says she doesn’t have insurance, so she’s unsure how she’s going to manage getting back on her feet.
However, Poindexter says folks who follow her rescue on social media are coming out in droves to help make repairs, pick up animals, and make donations.
“I didn’t have a chainsaw, I don’t have nothing. I don’t have the extra money to pay for somebody to come and help, and they want to. It makes all I do worth it,” Poindexter said.
It’s a long road to recovery for both Carnes and Poindexter, but they’re planning to take things one day at a time.
Something Poindexter wanted to make people aware of is looting, but specifically, people looking to steal pets.
Poindexter says she’s seen people wandering around her neighborhood, and she even confronted someone trying to steal her own dog. Poindexter believes people may be trying to take pets to get reward money for their return.
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