LONDON, Ky. — Volunteer and disaster relief organizations were deployed to Laurel and Pulaski Counties almost immediately after last week’s deadly storms passed.

What You Need To Know

  • An EF-4 tornado caused heavy damage in Laurel and Pulaski Counties

  • Volunteers from across the country are helping with storm relief in London and Somerset

  • Volunteers are searching for belongings, valuables and remove debris

  • Local and state agencies are patrolling damaged areas to prevent theft

Groups small and large from Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and beyond are on the ground in London following a deadly tornado on Friday, May 16.

“We’re trying to pour as many volunteers as possible in here,” Johnny Rodman, with Light in the Storm Disaster Relief Ministries, told Spectrum News.

Rodman, from White House, Tennessee, arrived in London only hours after the storm had passed.

“We found two of their rings already. We found the neighbor across-the-street’s wedding band that was there. We try to…give them hope,” Rodman said.

Storm Disaster Relief Ministries has been going door to door to offer any kind of help they can, everything from searching for valuable items and important documents to moving debris to the curb.

“Today we had 120. Hopefully, we can get more throughout the week,” Rodman said.

Jeff Ross, with the organization Hope For Crisis, brought a large mobile kitchen from Millersburg, Ohio. The former owner of a BBQ restaurant has served hundreds of meals each day since setting up in the Sunshine Hills Neighborhood of London.

“It’s changed my life to be able to come and help people to be the voice and hands of God.” Ross said.

He is offering food, water and ministry to those affected by the storm and those lending a hand in the recovery.

“We are so fortunate to be able to do what we’re doing,” Ross said.

Kate Hebner, a volunteer with Lowe’s Home Improvement, traveled to London from Louisville.

“The force of this storm, I mean we’re finding things buried underneath the ground,” Hebner told Spectrum News.

Hebner and two dozen volunteers were working near the highest point of Sunshine Hills where a home was blown away to the foundation.

“Just to lend and hand and get this community back on their feet,” Hebner said.

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