How to help victims impacted by the tornadoes in western Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of the worst tornado events in the history of Kentucky swept across western Kentucky on Dec. 10. According to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, at least 77 people have died from the tornadoes that tore through the commonwealth.

Hundreds were left homeless, and donations of money and more have been sent to Kentucky to help. 

Here are some ways how you can help with the tornado relief efforts.

Online donations:

Team Western Kentucky tornado relief fund: Beshear has established the relief fund to assist those impacted by the tornados. Visit the website online for more information.

Kentucky Red Cross:  Donations can also be sent to the Kentucky Red Cross online click here, by texting REDCROSS to 90999, or by calling 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669).

La Grange Kentucky Main Street Program for Western KY Red Cross: They are accepting donations on their Facebook page to help victims of the severe storms. Facebook is paying for all the processing fees so 100% of the donations will go directly to the nonprofit. For more information visit their website or click here to donate to the American Red Cross. 

United Way of Kentucky: They're accepting monetary donations to support the impacted communities online. Families needing help can also call 211, Kentucky's United Way helpline, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Rex Chapman Foundation: The former University of Kentucky basketball player is partnering with the Blue Grass Community Foundation to assist with the tornado relief efforts in western Kentucky. Donate online.

Global Empowerment Mission: GEM Bstrong is partnering with Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC among other organizations to help the communities. Racing Louisville FC has donated $10,000 to the organization. Donate here.

Louisville Food Trucks: The organization is accepting donations on GoFundMe to help those in Mayfield to have hot meals. The LEE Initiative is helping fund their mission.

Bowling Green: There is now a Bowling Green/Warren County website to directly help those impacted by the tornadoes. There will be daily updates, information on debris reporting, shelter information, road safety updates donation and volunteer opportunities.

Mayfield Graves County Tornado Relief Fund: Checks can be made out to the relief fund by mailing a check C/O independence Bank, P.O Box 9, Fancy Farm, KY 42039 or online. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at any Independence Bank location.

Volunteer opportunities:

Kentucky State Police: Call 270-331-1979 if wishing to volunteer.

Kentucky Emergency Management

Kentucky Red Cross: The nonprofit is organizing volunteers at South Warren High School. (8140 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, or call 270-467-7500 if interested)

South Warren High School (8140 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, Ky. 270-467-7500)

Bremen Volunteer Fire Department (51 College St., Bremen, Ky. 42325)

Catalyst Church (114 Kings Dr., Mayfield, Ky., 270-356-1191

Bowling Green Community Action Center (171 Center St., Bowling Green, Ky. 270-782-4437)

Gasper Brewing Company (302 State St., Bowling Green, Ky. – need volunteers to serve food)

Other ways to help:

Taylor County Animal Shelter: 270-465-7651 or 270-932-1304 to help with abandoned animals in Taylor county area. (2175 Old Hodgenville Road, Campbellsville)

KY Hopeful Paws: The organization collecting donations through the end of December for animals displaced by the Kentucky tornadoes. Requested items include:

• Animal food of all types, such as dog and cat food, small animal food, large animal/farm animal food,
• Crates to contain animals, animal bedding items such as beds, blankets, and small animal pine bedding.
• Unused/unopened animal medication such as heartworm and flea/tick medication.
• Human toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and feminine products.
• Unused packaged undergarments and packaged socks.
• Batteries, flashlights, and handheld lanterns.

Shop Local Kentucky: The organization is creating "Kentucky Strong" T-shirts to raise funds for those affected by the tornadoes. Net proceeds will be donated State of Kentucky's Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, according to a Facebook post. To purchase, click here.

AT&T: Customers in need of assistance with billing addresses in zip codes across Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri visit https://about.att.com/pages/disaster_relief/severe-storms.html for more information. (from Dec. 11-15)

Report price gouging:

• It's illegal for retailers to raise prices for certain things during an emergency. Call 1-888-432-9257 or report online.
• According to the Kentucky Attorney General’s office, goods and services in this prohibition include: consumer food items; goods or services used for emergency cleanup; emergency supplies; medical supplies; home heating oil; building materials; housing; transportation, freight, and storage services; and gasoline or other motor fuels.

Tornado relief resources for those impacted by the tornadoes:  (compiled by office of Sen. Mitch McConnell) 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Kentucky disaster webpage: click here. 

Kentucky Emergency Management (KY-EM)’s webpage includes info about volunteering and donating critical supplies.  click here. 

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's page for updates on state response: click here. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Resources

For individuals in the counties covered by the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, Individual Assistance is available. Individuals in Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren counties are currently eligible. Additional counties may be added as damage assessments continue. Individuals can apply for Individual Assistance with FEMA the following ways:

• Internet or Smartphone Application: Disaster survivors may apply for IHP Assistance or check their application status online at www.disasterassistance.gov. Disaster survivors may also access FEMA via smartphone by downloading the application from www.fema.gov or through their mobile provider’s application store.
• FEMA Toll-Free Helpline: Disaster survivors may call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians: 1-800-462-7585) to register for assistance or check their application status.

Individual Assistance programs include:

• Mass Care and Emergency Assistance (MC/EA): Mass Care is composed of seven services known as activities: sheltering; feeding; distribution of emergency supplies; support for individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; reunification services for adults and children; support for household pets, service, and assistance animals; and mass evacuee support.
• Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP): CCP provides eligible state, territorial, tribal and local (STTL) governments, and non-governmental organizations with supplemental funding to assist disaster-impacted individuals and communities in recovering from the major disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psycho-educational services.
• Survivors in distress may call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-985-5990. This hotline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural disaster.
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA): DUA provides unemployment benefits and re-employment assistance services to eligible survivors. These services are under the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by the state and local government emergency management officials of the affected area(s).
• Disaster Legal Services (DLS): DLS provides legal aid to affected survivors through an agreement with the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the American Bar Association. DLS is available to survivors who qualify as low-income.
• Disaster Case Management (DCM): DCM is a time-limited process that promotes partnership between a case manager and a disaster survivor in order to assess and address a survivor’s verified disaster-caused unmet needs through a disaster recovery plan.
• Individuals and Households Program (IHP): IHP Assistance provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP Assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster; it is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

Public Assistance is authorized for state and local governments to conduct Emergency Work, including debris removal and emergency protective measures. Permanent Work may be authorized at a later date.

• For the latest information about Public Assistance, including work and county eligibility, please see FEMA’s Kentucky disaster webpage: click here. 
• For information and guidance, including how to apply and eligibility requirements, click here. 

Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) is authorized for the entire Commonwealth. The HMA Program assists states, and local communities by:

• Significantly reducing or permanently eliminating future risk to lives and property from natural hazards
• Providing funds to implement projects in accordance with priorities identified in State, tribal, or local hazard mitigation plans
• Enabling mitigation measures to be implemented during the recovery following a major disaster declaration
• For further information about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program click here or call the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Helpline: 1-866-222-3580.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources

For the latest information regarding the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) loan and grant programs, click here. 

SBA Disaster Loans: Individuals and businesses in SBA’s declared disaster areas may apply for and receive funds from SBA for losses not covered by insurance or FEMA.

• Home and Personal Property Loans: Individuals who have experienced damage to their home or personal property may apply for low-interest loans to replace or repair their primary residence as well as to replace or repair personal property. For more information regarding Home and Personal Property Loans, click here. 
• Business Physical Disaster Loans: Businesses of any size and nonprofit organizations may apply for and receive low-interest loans to recover after a disaster. These funds may be used to replace or repair real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory, and/or leasehold improvements. For more information regarding Business Physical Disaster Loans, click here.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private, nonprofit organizations are eligible. Low-interest loans are based on economic injury, not property damage, and provide working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster. For information regarding Economic Injury Disaster Loans, click here.
• Military Reservists Economic Injury Loans: Small businesses may apply for and receive low-interest loans to help meet operating expenses that could have been met due to an essential employee being called-up to active duty as a military reservist. For more information regarding Military Reservists Economic Injury Loans, click here.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Resources

IRS Tax-Filing Extension: Kentuckians living in counties included in Kentucky’s Major Disaster Declaration will have until May 16, 2022 to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. For more information on the extended deadlines and a current list of eligible localities, click here.

This story will be updated.

Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.