Interview with Loni Lewis, July 29, 2022

Partial Transcript: Today's date is July 29th, 2022--

Segment Synopsis: Loni Lewis describes moving to Mayfield when she was young. During her childhood, she describes living in a quiet neighborhood with good people. She recalls some childhood traditions in the area like frequenting The Good News Shop, a Christian bookstore in the courthouse square or attending the annual Christmas parade. She describes moving into a rental home that her parents owned in 2004, going into some detail about the house and her apartment within it.

Keywords: Christian bookstores; Christmas parades; Rental homes; The Good News Shop; Tornadoes; Mayfield (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Thinking back about December 10th, 2021--

Segment Synopsis: Lewis says that she found out about the incoming storm system after receiving a call from her mother, but that she was not worried about it. Lewis recalls the storm becoming very intense, which prompted her to seek shelter in the center of her house. She describes her state of mind and the environment around her as the tornado damaged her apartment. Lewis says that after the disaster she lost consciousness due to a broken gas line and describes coming to and hearing cries for help around her.

Keywords: First responders; Gas lines; Natural disasters; Severe weather; Shelters; Tornadoes; Mayfield (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You know, once things had calmed down--

Segment Synopsis: Lewis describes how the night of the tornado police officers were walking door to door checking on people, and she told them she didn't want to leave her house. The next morning Lewis went outside and surveyed the debris and damage to her home. Lewis used a gas generator in the aftermath of the storm, which caused her daughter to develop carbon monoxide poisoning. She says this is when FEMA told them the building was unsafe to inhabit and they were forced to relocate.

Keywords: Carbon monoxide poisoning; Debris; Destruction; FEMA; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Gas generators; Tornadoes; Mayfield (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And so, uh, what were your next steps--

Segment Synopsis: Lewis says the Red Cross paid for her to stay in a hotel for a few weeks. After this, she describes moving in with her parents, and says that without them she wouldn't know where her and her daughter would be living. Lewis says the estimates to repair the damage to her rental property totaled to over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and because of this it will likely not be repaired by FEMA.

Keywords: American Red Cross; FEMA; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Temporary housing; Tornadoes; Weather damage; Mayfield (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Can you repeat that--

Segment Synopsis: Lewis says that she didn't begin to process the events for a long time, saying that it has caused her anxiety and depression. She says that she just pushed through each day focusing on supplies. Lewis says her daughter didn't want her to stay in the damaged apartment. She says her daughter has been dealing with the disaster better than she has, but has developed anxiety about the weather since the event.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Mental health; Tornadoes; Trauma; Mayfield (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Can you talk about how you think that--

Segment Synopsis: Lewis says that many members have become greedy as a result of the tornado event, but that the tornado revealed to her the large number of good people in the world. She says that she hopes that Mayfield rebuilds as much as they can while acknowledging that this won't be possible for some places. Lewis hopes that new businesses and entertainment will come to Mayfield and emphasizes that the churches in town have been very helpful in the recovery effort.

Keywords: Churches; Disaster recovery; Disaster relief; Natural disasters; Rebuilding; Reconstruction; Severe weather; Tornadoes; Weather damage; Mayfield (Ky.)