(WKYT) – It’s been almost one year since an almost mile wide EF-4 tornado killed 20 people and destroyed parts of Laurel and Pulaski Counties.
The Laurel County Fiscal Court is holding a Day of Remembrance to remember the lives lost and recognize the volunteers and first responders who helped save lives the night of the tornado. More details will be announced later.
In a social media post, Laurel County Fiscal Court says the storm damaged 1,500 homes and cost 350 million dollars in damages.
The storm left over 100 people injured, including William Monroe Murphy. He said he was flung from his home.
“I felt everything moving and I laid down on my floor, next thing I know, my trailer’s up in the air slammed upside down, it went everywhere,” Murphy said.
Murphy went with it. He tells us he landed several feet away.
“It must’ve knocked me out, my head was busted open, my back was beat[en] to death, but I lived through it,” he said.
Almost a year later, now physically recovered, Murphy is living in a camper. He is still working to rebuild not only his home, but others in the Bill Vaughn Memorial Trailer Park he maintains.
“I never stopped,” he said.
Murphy said he’s still working to fix seven mobile home units but he also needs help. It’s only him, his son, and a part-time worker.
“It’ll take us another year or two to get back to where we were,” Murphy said.
“It’s just been a real tragedy, I hope we never have [anything] like this happen again,” Murphy said.
To remember the 20 lives lost and the hard work and dedication of those on the front lines, the Day of Remembrance will be on May 16th at one pm at Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary School.