Kentucky family seeks help after tornado damages home

They say rebuilding will be a challenge without community support

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A Kentucky family is working to put the pieces back together after they say Thursday’s tornado in Rockcastle County damaged their home.

A trail of uprooted trees leads to their house on Red Hill Road. The couple who lives there says the storm tore off part of their roof, pulling the tin, wood, and nails from their home.

“I was asleep and he [husband Jim] came in there and woke me up, and he said when I came in the kitchen, he said I had mud and debris you know from where the drywall had come down, on the side of my face,” said Virginia Pheanis, whose home was damaged, “I was like ‘oh my God what happened.'”

Inside, Virginia says the walls shook, and the ceiling cracked, but she’s thankful that she, her husband Jim, and their pets were unharmed. Virginia says it’s miraculous that every large tree fell away from their home.

“The Lord has spared us our lives, and our little home,” she said, “I just thank God that it happened the way it happened,” said Virginia.

Now, days after the destructive storm, they’re working to rebuild. Some in the area have dropped off supplies, but it’s a long road ahead.

Their daughter, Karen Powell, says her parents can’t fix this on their own.

“Mom and dad are not able to do all of this on their own, mom is disabled, and dad is disabled,” Powell said.

She is asking for help through service or donations. A GoFundMe (click HERE) has been set up for Virginia and Jim, raising $200 so far, they said that money has helped keep their house warm, as some walls remain covered with blankets.

“Words can’t express how I feel inside, because I told my husband it’s like a nightmare, a dream,” Virginia said. “Anyone that would be willing to help or would want to help, it would mean a lot to me.”

Meanwhile, neighbors  face similar challenges and are also working to raise the funds to rebuild.