HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (WKRN) — Mother Nature has given Kentucky a devastating one-two punch.

One month after severe flooding hit the area, this past weekend’s severe storms killed at least 19 people. Eighteen of those reported deaths happened in Laurel and Pulaski Counties. In Christian County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a disaster center for those still impacted by April’s storms.

“I relocated as quickly as possible [this weekend]," Hopkinsville resident and native Justin Thompson told News 2. "My house is pretty much destroyed from the last disaster we've had."

Since April’s flooding ravaged Hopkinsville in early April, Thompson has spent most of his time inside a FEMA relief center. 

“It has been a wild ride this last month," Thompson said. "It’s been paperwork after paperwork — inspection after inspection. I’ve probably been to this building — this is my fifth time."

FEMA’s active presence in Southern Kentucky will likely not end any time after Friday night’s storms and with more storms in the forecast. 

“As of May 16, when we were declared, FEMA has distributed $10 million and has assisted 1,200 survivors in Kentucky,” said Eren Strittar with FEMA. “There is help out there. Contact your local emergency medical agency.”

As of Monday, Kentucky has yet to file a disaster relief request with the federal government, meaning FEMA and other federal aid are not on-site in the areas damaged by the most recent storms. That will likely change later this week. 

While the damage in Christian County on Friday was minimal, Thompson said he hasn’t truly slept in over a month, with the severe weather among the worst he had ever seen.

"It has been very stressful, I will say that," Thompson said. "It's definitely been weighing heavily on me. Actually, the house that I lost recently because of damages was my childhood home."

Thompson said his Hopkinsville community has been “really supportive," doing whatever they can to help their neighbors. 

His advice to his other Kentucky residents is to stay grounded and lean on family.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/kentucky/road-storm-recovery-longer/