Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly unanimously passed a bill providing $100 million for disaster relief.

Some of the lawmakers who voted for the bill are now rolling up their sleeves to help with tornado cleanup in their districts.

There's a lot of devastation.

You know, some people, lost a little.

Some people lost everything.

And unfortunately, a lot of people lost their lives.

And it's a heartbreaking situation here in the area.

You know, we had a, tornado come through East Burns that, several years ago.

But to the extent of this damage now, when when the West Kentucky tornadoes happened, a group of us, we went out to Dawson Springs, that area.

And this reminds me very much of that.

I mean, some of these homes were leveled if they were in the path, whereas you might have one home on one side of the street, completely fine, the other one completely gone, and, you wouldn't even know what home was there.

I've never seen any damage like this before.

This is, beyond belief.

What's equally astounding is the community outreach support.

I've seen so many people out there.

We're not the only ones out there getting our hands dirty and our boots muddy, and all the churches that have come out to support.

I mean, it's really something that's made me proud to be Appalachian and proud to be from southeastern Kentucky.

It's truly been amazing.

All the support that we've got.

We're all working together on this.

You know, party doesn't matter.

We're here to help the people, make sure our people and our communities get the relief they need.

But yes, I would say everybody is helping in their own capacity.

The Laurel County legislators, you know, everybody that has a piece of Laurel County.

We're we're texting with each other.

We're all helping in our own ways and keeping each other informed.

And so, we're going to continue to do that and make sure our people are taken care of.

There will obviously be assessments, going on currently and in the future.

So we don't know exactly what that's going to look like as far as the needs are.

But we know that House Bill 544 provided 100 to $100 million additional funding for, disaster relief.

And those funds are in addition to what's in the EAC for the safe funds.

So those will be accessible to the governor and to emergency management to use now.

And as we find out if there are additional needs, then we have the opportunity to come back and address those additional needs at that time.

I mean, if you look at, North Carolina, I thought FEMA moved very swift as opposed to, as they have in the past.

But yes, I am hopeful.

And I know, Congressman Rogers office, Senator McConnell's office, they they have been speaking with that administration in the past as well.

But no, firsthand the first two.

And then also, the governor as well.

And so, yes, I am hopeful that there will be swift action at the federal level as we recover and people rebuild.

You know, there are those who who've lost their lives and families who definitely need prayer.

And, you know, they need healing.

So just don't forget those families.

You know, the physical needs make a difference in their important.

But those emotional and spiritual needs in the weeks and months ahead or even greater.