Just Numb

The tornado that hit Kentucky affected thousands of families just days before Christmas. In total, at least 88 people died, with fatalities also recorded in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Many homes, businesses, and churches in Mayfield, population 10,000, have blue tarps nailed over the gaping holes left in the buildings, but on other structures, roofs and blown out windows remain open to the sky. Work crews hauled away tons of debris in western Kentucky towns pulverized by deadly tornadoes as the traumatized residents began to rebuild their shattered lives. Some locals opted to stay in their damaged houses after the tornadoes struck last week instead of moving in with family or into shelters, as others did. But the destruction that raked across six states has triggered lesser-known tragedies too, in several instances out of the reach of a huge rescue and recovery operation. Rebuilding hard-hit Kentucky cities like Mayfield and Dawson Springs will take years, with entire neighborhoods devastated.