[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 215 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9128-S9129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Kentucky

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Kentucky is working to recover from the 
deadly storms and tornadoes. Each day brings entirely new challenges. 
Tens of thousands are still dealing with water, gas, or power outages. 
Families are in shock and grief over the loss of loved ones. Rebuilding 
the areas in Kentucky leveled by this storm will take months, if not 
years, to complete.
  Amid this pain, though, bright lights of hope shine through. In the 
face of tragedy, Kentuckians are still as strong and as generous as we 
have always been.
  Yesterday, I spoke with the Taylor County judge-executive. He told me 
that 70 families in his county had lost their homes in the storm. 
Emergency responders made shelters available, but folks were completely 
taken in by family, friends, or neighbors--just the kind of people we 
have in Kentucky.
  In Mayfield, residents are already beginning to rebuild only days 
after the storm leveled full city blocks. Churches hosted Sunday 
services this past weekend. Locals brought their chain saws and cleared 
debris from the city's roads. People from nearby counties and States 
have flooded--literally flooded--in to help.
  One man, Jimmy Finch, has struck a chord with America's hearts all 
across the country. He had no connections to Mayfield whatsoever. He is 
from Clarksville, TN. But after the disaster, he borrowed a big meat 
smoker, got into his car, made the hour-and-a-half journey in the dead 
of night and started serving up food the next morning. This fellow from 
Tennessee came up to Kentucky and brought a whole bunch of food. On 
Sunday morning, for hours, he fed chicken, hot links, and burgers to 
hungry residents who had been without heat or power for days.
  Western Kentucky's radio and TV stations have kept operating 
throughout this crisis, delivering vital information, even amid roving 
power outages. State parks opened their doors to residents who lost 
their homes. Businesses, individuals, and charities have been generous 
with food, water, and shelter.
  Kentucky's first responders are working hand in hand with FEMA to 
provide coordinated relief. Doctors, nurses, firefighters, and law 
enforcement officers are working literally through the night. Utility 
workers are making a Herculean effort to restore power and water.
  Hundreds of Kentucky National Guardsmen have deployed to Western 
Kentucky to offer their assistance. And in Fort Campbell, the Federal 
Government has provided a critical lifeline of support: 61 generators, 
74,000 meals, 135,000 liters of water, thousands of cots and blankets, 
all supplied by Fort Campbell.
  I am in close contact with Governor Beshear, our Federal Agencies, 
and local leaders. My staff and I have been in frequent touch with the 
White House.

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  Kentucky will come back from this bigger and better than ever before. 
I will make sure the Senate provides all the assistance we can to make 
sure that is a reality.