Oklahomans Helping Kentuckians After Tornado Outbreak

MAYFIELD, Kentucky (KOKH) — 

Many Oklahomans are in Kentucky helping victims of a tornado outbreak that hit the state over the weekend.

Pastor Derrick Scobey with Ebenezer Baptist Church flew to Kentucky Sunday night, one day after holding a massive giveaway at his church in Oklahoma City.

Pastor Scobey is working with World Vision to distribute clothing, personal hygiene items, and cleaning supplies to victims of the tornado outbreak.

“I’ve personally never seen anything as bad as I’ve seen here,” Pastor Scobey said. “Oklahoma tornadoes, like in Moore in 2012-2013 and 1999, pale in comparison to the damage that is here in Mayfield.”

Pastor Scobey and World Vision unloaded a 53-foot trailer full of items to victims in Mayfield on Tuesday. They parked outside of Central Elementary School and families took what they needed.

Amanda Vaca and her family of 9 survived the tornado but lost everything else.

World Vision & Pastor Scobey loaded the back of Vaca’s pickup full of things they needed.

Despite it all, Vaca smiled and laughed as she waited for volunteers to finish packing up.

“If my kids see me down and worrying then they’re going to worry and stress,” Vaca said. “I have to keep my straight face for them.”

“In a lot of tornadoes, you see maybe a sink here, a commode there,” Pastor Scobey said. “Here, everything is broken. Everything. Everything is broken into pieces. But the people are not broken. They still have hope.”

So far, World Vision has unloaded two 53-foot trailers full of items to victims in Kentucky. Another trailer will be taken to Bowling Green tomorrow to help victims there.

“So many people came to Oklahoma and helped us when we’ve been in our times of need,” Scobey added. “It’s rewarding and fulfilling to return that favor to another state in their time of desperate need.”