By Aleksandra Michalska

WINGO (Ky.) – Melinda Gouin, a Mayfield resident, is counting her blessings, even though a large tree was torn from the ground in tornadoes that destroyed her house.

Gouin was taken to the hospital by tornadoes that struck Friday. When she was discharged from the hospital the next day, Gouin found refuge at Wingo’s Way Community Center, approximately 10 miles (16km) south of Mayfield. This shelter has been home to a steady stream tornado survivors.

At least 74 and 14 people were killed by the deadly twisters in Kentucky.

Gouin claimed she worried about waking up and hearing “people screaming, babies crying, and dogs barking.”

She said that on Tuesday she was woken by a man screaming – “The word of God…about how much he holds in his hands.”

“That is a beautiful thing to wake up and, I am right there in front. I was in the first row. Gouin stated that he was lucky.

As many other people, she’s dealing with the loss not only of her house but also of the place she called home.

She said that Mayfield in western Kentucky, which has approximately 10,000 residents, was so hard hit she could walk out and see the difference.

“As silly as this might sound, some buildings… they carry you story, they hold your memories, and then they land on the ground. They are gone. That is heartbreaking.

The Way Community Center was one location housing survivors of tornadoes. There were rows of mattresses and couches on the floor and children playing on the floors of the shelter. More than 300 people in Kentucky, as well as in Arkansas and Tennessee, were being housed in Red Cross shelters, and hundreds more have been placed temporarily in resorts at area state parks, according to the Kentucky Red Cross.

Many tornado survivors were grateful for the help of others, even those who sustained great loss.

Tommy Lynn Jackson from Mayfield said, “I had nothing, and they gave clothes, a blanket and the nice lady above there, her husband, had died. But he was blessed because he left me his blessing because my pants are his size.”

Linda Erickson lived in Eloise Fuller Apartments, downtown Mayfield. They were damaged and she said she was grateful to God.

Erickson declared, “And if not for the Lord God I would be dead.” He gets me through, like when I wake up angry and say: “Where are you again?” But he gets me through all that, you know? You know what? He helps me get through everything.

Ray McReynolds, another resident of Eloise Fuller apartments, sat in a wheelchair and talked simply about his loss and needs.

McReynolds stated that money is the worst thing for us right now. McReynolds stated, “We don’t have a place to call home and don’t have enough money to rent another one.” We need money right now to get by.