Rod Nickel, Cheney Orr

MAYFIELD (Ky.) – Six days following a devastating tornado that struck Mayfield in Kentucky, power is still out to the city. The streets are darkened and unsafe when the sun sets.

While the twister destroyed entire blocks of the city’s buildings, it left other areas almost unaffected. Broken power lines run across streets and yards. As crews trim the remaining trees, you can hear the constant buzz of chainsaws during daylight hours.

“We can’t call this home. The only thing we can call this when we look at it – I’ll be honest – is a junkyard,” said Vinisha Stubblefield, 38, a lifelong resident.

On Thursday 22 bodies were found in Graves County. The county seat is Mayfield which has a population of 10.000 people. Eight people were killed when a candle factory was destroyed by the tornado.

Stubblefield, like her neighbor interviewed by Reuters, hopes to remain and rebuild despite the destruction of the local economy and possible future tornadoes. This is the dilemma many people have experienced after disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires.

Mayfield’s emotional attachment seems to have prevailed over job opportunities and trauma in the immediate aftermath.

It is possible to get government aid. The President Joe Biden was seen walking through Mayfield, near Dawson Springs, Wednesday to survey the devastation caused by a tornado that claimed at least 75 lives in Kentucky. Biden promised to rebuild communities which have sustained billions in damages.

Andy Beshear of Kentucky stated that 16 persons are still missing in the state.

“I need assistance from the government. Beatriz Valero 42 said, “I need help from FEMA, the president – anyone can help me.” She was picking through rubble from her house, where she had lived for twenty years.

FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently accepting disaster relief applications. These are to cover the cost of housing temporary and repairs.

Although the tornado had toppled some walls and caused damage to the roof, it mostly spared the bathroom in which Valero and her 8-year old granddaughter sought refuge when the twister struck. Her husband’s work in construction provides income for the family.

The city is under an order to boil water for drinking or cooking, and it accounts for more than one-third of Kentucky’s 14,000 electricity outages. Crews could be working for days to resurrect utility poles or hook up transmission lines.

This rebuild is so large that entire communities of homes and work places have been destroyed. Mayfield may not be rebuilt in its entirety for a while. Pastor Stephen Boyken from His House Ministries in Mayfield stated that shelter was the greatest need. On Thursday, before the forecasted rains arrived, church volunteers were quick to get to businesses and homes with their tarps.

The pastor stated that there were many homes missing from the world’s map, and some of the apartments in need of repair are not livable. He also said that about 150 generators had been donated to help the homeless.

Boyken indicated that while he expects some residents to go, he wants those with roots in Mayfield Springs and Dawson Springs to continue to live there.

‘CHEATED DEATH’

Anthony Moss is a 34 year old electrician who plans to repair the Mayfield home where he lives together with his fiancée and their son. However, it’s not clear how he will pay the money. Storms pushed an old tree of 50 years onto the house. It blew off the roof and damaged the upstairs bedroom.

The 57-year old home is not covered by insurance. He believes that government programs will assist him in rebuilding.

Moss is still grateful. His four American Bulldogs and their family were able to move in the basement. A generator is available and they have kerosene heat.

Many of his neighbors’ homes had been destroyed. He stated, “Look around. I’m the only one left standing.” “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Devin Perry is 18, and lives with Denise Jones (37) who is in very poor health. He also has a younger brother, Tae Perry (19). The Perry family is also home to two brothers. Devin Perry describes his family as “cheated death” but they survived. Both homes have been destroyed.

The family intends to rebuild their home – somehow.

“This is our home. This is where we were born,” he said. “We have nothing left. But you can’t give up, because if you give up, that means everything you worked for was for nothing.”