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Paying it forward: Volunteers help Kentucky storm victims

Residents of Laurel County joined families at the Sunshine Hills subdivision to support their neighbors, who had lost everything.
Karyn Czar/WUKY
Residents of Laurel County joined families at the Sunshine Hills subdivision to support their neighbors, who had lost everything.

Volunteers from across the country have come to Kentucky to lend a hand after an EF-4 tornado touched down last month, killing 19 people and leaving a swath of destruction.

Over the last two weeks, WUKY has met people from at least a dozen states, including Ohio, Michigan, and California, here to help Kentucky storm victims clean up and rebuild.

Karyn Czar/WUKY
Groups from across the country have come to Kentucky to help clean up and repair storm damage, ensuring everyone has access to food.
Karyn Czar/WUKY

A group from Newport, Tennessee, brought a massive grill and, in one day, served over 2,000 hot dogs to hungry volunteers and first responders. Melanie James said it was their turn to give back.

"Well, you guys came and helped us during the floods, so here we are," James said.

Volunteers sort supplies for London, KY storm victims
Karyn Czar/WUKY
Volunteers sort supplies for London, KY storm victims

Debris is still being removed from storm-stricken areas, but the focus is shifting to repairing and rebuilding.