During the last week of January, Kentucky was hit by a very severe ice storm that caused thousands of power outages, water losses, car wrecks, tree damages, home damages, and people to be trapped indoors for a week or more. This was not the first time Kentucky has been hit by such a storm, but this one was more severe than expected. As a result, eastern Kentucky in particular was greatly affected. CAP’s Disaster Relief was there to aid those in need of repairs, food, clothing, shelter, and more. Disaster Relief volunteers came from places such as Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, and many parts of Kentucky. Sherry Buresh, Assistant Director of the Disaster Relief Program, was pleased by the great response. Work crews included chainsaw crews, home repair crews, and case work volunteers in addition to all the CAP employees and volunteers who cooked for the Relief workers. During the week of response, CAP assisted about forty households with debris clean-up, chainsaw work, roof jobs, or other home repair (some major). One of the homes with major destruction will become a WorkFest site in the spring.

At the request of the Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs), CAPs Disaster Relief provided cots, blankets, and supplies to shelters. CAP also opened the new Jean White Respite Center as a shelter from the devastating ice storm. CAP plans to continue using the Respite Center as an official shelter for any future disasters. Not only did CAP perform home repairs and aid shelters, but we also supplied water to those who were without. A 10-unit shower trailer was taken to western Kentucky. The effects of the storm were compounded in Letcher County by contamination to their water supply. CAP responded immediately to their request for water by delivering a semi-truck load that very same day. Almost every county in Kentucky was impacted by the destructive storm. Fortunately, CAP was there to help. The effort to help those severely affected by the ice storm was definitely a CAP wide effort.