Blog Archives
Devastation
There are really no words to describe the devastation that hit Kentucky in the form of tornadoes. 23 dead, countless others injured and homeless.
While covering the tornadoes last week, I visited Menifee County. It’s unimaginable what these people are going through. Pictures and video don’t do it justice.
I do encourage you to watch the videos, look at the pictures and watch the coverage LEX18 has done from across Kentucky. And if you’re moved to help, do so. Do so by simply calling the Red Cross. If it’s time you’ve got, go out there and volunteer. If it’s money or donations, they’ll take them.
Let It Snow!
Turn your browser into a winter wonderland – go to Google, type in “Let it Snow” – hit search. Neat! And be sure to let it sit for a minute or two, and defrost!
Let it snow let it snow let it snow!
Flipping Hot!
Has this ever happened to anyone?! Seriously, it’s that hot in Kentucky that my phone is unable to function. However, I prefer this ANY day over snow!
After Child Dies in Hot Car, Group Talks to Bring Awareness
FRANKFORT (AP) – Kentucky officials will launch a campaign Monday to help keep children from being killed or injured from being left in a hot vehicle.
Safe Kids USA says last year was the worst on record in terms of children dying in the U.S. after being left unattended in vehicles. A total of 49 children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years died from vehicular hyperthermia in 2010.
The organization recommends leaving a purse or briefcase in the back seat of the vehicle or setting a cell phone alarm as a reminder when a child is in the car and says to leave car doors locked when you’re not around so kids won’t climb inside to play.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Repairing Damaged Roads From Flood Waters Will Be Pricey
Flood waters running over roads across the state was an all too common sight this Spring. Now, the problems left behind by the water need to be fixed. The price tag; in the tens of millions of dollars.
“We made a very quick estimate in a checking with all our highway districts at the time Governor Beshear declared an emergency,” says Chuck Wolfe, spokesperson with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The projected cost at this point is more than 30 million dollars. The good news, the Transportation Cabinet says a good portion of costs will be reimbursed by FEMA.
“It will take some time because until the water recedes we cant really get in and see what we are dealing with,” says Wolfe.
At any given time, more than 50 counties reported road closures. Hundreds of streets completely shut down, some still not open.
“When the Ohio River in some areas is a crest above the level of 1937 which is the flood that people still refer to as the big one, you know that you have a serious problem,” says Wolfe.
Farmers’ Crops Suffering From Too Much Rain
The downpour of rain across the state is getting the best of many people, flooding streets and homes, now farmers are asking the question, when will it end?
“I’ve got tobacco that’s ready to go in the ground, bell peppers ready to go in the ground,” says Ben Furnish, a farmer in Harrison County.
But Ben, along with other farmers across the state have their hands tied. They can’t put their crops in the ground, and there’s nothing they can do about it.
“You just hope for a dry week. If we get one with all the equipment we have we can get it in the ground.” Now, Furnish says they’re about three weeks behind schedule and so far he’s lost more than 3 acres of corn. The wet ground making it difficult to plant.
“This has been the hardest year so far. I know we’ve had record rainfall, and this is the first time I’ve dealt with this.”
Puddles of rain, just sitting in the middle of his corn field. The river nearby threatening to over flow again, like it did last week. But that’s not the only problem the rain brings.
“This is not corn, even though it looks similar,” says Ben pointing at the weeds in his field. “There’s your line of corn in
between it, this Johnson Grass is growing around it. That is a problem, but its too wet to go on the field and spot spray.”
Combine that problem with the cold temperatures and the possibility of a frost, and there’s even more uneasiness for farmers across the state.
“The conditions are never perfect, but that’s the way it is. It’s a gamble everyday,” says Furnish.
Help Now for Tornado Victims
We’ve all seen the pictures, heard the stories, and felt the pain of those in the south suffering, after tornadoes ripped through their homes. We’ve all wanted to help, but thought “I can’t give much, what good will it do?” Now there’s a way you can help. No matter how much you can give.
The Red Cross will host a phone bank along with all 4 t.v. stations in Lexington: LEX 18, WKTY, WTVQ and WDKY on Thursday. Volunteers will be taking donation via phone from Noon to 7:00. All you have to do is call. More info here.The number to call is: 859-977-5366.
| LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - Wednesday, May 4, 2011— The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross in cooperation with WDKY, WKYT, WLEX, and WTVQ television stations is hosting a local phone bank to accept monetary donations to Southern Storm Relief.
The American Red Cross is helping thousands of people after a recent string of deadly storms swept through the Southern United States. |
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who lost loved ones or have suffered through these deadly storms,” said Terry Burkhart, CEO of the Bluegrass Chapter. “Red Cross disaster teams are working around the clock to help the thousands of people whose lives are turned upside down. More Red Cross assistance is on the way.”
“Our top priority right now is to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people throughout the South and Midwest affected by these storms,” Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services said, adding that the Red Cross is also distributing relief supplies and providing emotional support and basic health services to disaster survivors.
More than 65 Red Cross shelters are open as families have been forced them from their homes. Red Cross shelters are open in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Individuals or organizations that would like to make a contribution to Southern Storm Relief may do so by calling the Southern Storm Relief hotline at 859-977-5366 from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Individuals may also visit redcrosslexky.org to make a secure on-line donation.
On Wednesday the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross continued to make arrangements for local volunteers to deploy to those areas affected by the recent storms. “We have four volunteers in Alabama currently with five more scheduled to deploy by Thursday,” said Jamie Adams, Director of Volunteers for the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We have one additional person working the floods in Western Kentucky.”
Nationally, 95% of all American Red Cross staff are unpaid volunteers. Last year more than 500,000 individuals volunteered to work over 62,000 individual disasters.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Double Rainbow!
I’m sure you’ve all seen the infamous “Double Rainbow” video on YouTube. Well thanks to one of LEX 18′s awesome viewers, there’s been a double-rainbow spotted in Kentucky. Sorry though, no awesome commentating to go with it. Feel free to create your own 
“What does it mean?!!!”
Well Done, Brian Williams and NBC
I get it. The Royal Wedding is absolutely every girls’ dream. I’m totally into it. I won’t wake up early to watch it, but my DVR will absolutely be stuffed with several hours of wedding coverage when I wake up. But, it’s not the most important thing in the world.
While that big story is always debatable and highly objective, I feel pretty confident that what’s happening in Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and other southern states that were hit hard by the tornadoes is way more important.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hoopla of a new princess and the dream wedding for everyone. Especially the media (guilty as charged.) It is literally a production for the ages, and with millions of people expected to tune in, it’s no surprise every network is going all out for the Royal Wedding coverage. But when something as big as what happened in the south happens, it’s hard to ignore. It’s hard to move the wedding of a lifetime coverage to the B block. It’s hard not to keep your star anchor in the heart of the coverage. But NBC found a way.
I watched NBC and another network news show tonight. Both had tornado coverage, Royal Wedding hoopla, etc. But while one ended with a fluff-piece on the happenings in London, another ended with a call to help, for the public to donate to the Red Cross to help those suffering in the south.
What’s more, Brian Williams took to the blogosphere to share his reason for their coverage. He was on his way to London, when he turned around. He knew there was another story he needed to report that was more important.
Check out BW’s blog here, on why he came back.
“We both agreed the tragedy would dominate our newscast and our coverage.”
~Brian Williams
And by the way, you can give to Red Cross disaster relief by texting REDCROSS to 90999, to help the victims of the tornadoes.
