CHELSEY ROBBINS
A Mother's Courage
The night of the tornado was marked by a tremendous amount of confusion. Chelsey Robbins remembered how the weather forecast on December 10th, 2021 had predicted something severe, but having never experienced such a storm before, she didn’t take the warnings as seriously as she should have. Chelsey recalled that a small storm passed through Graves County earlier in the evening, leading her to believe the worst was over. But a short time later, the big one struck.
"I’ve never been through anything like this," Chelsey thought, her mind racing with the weight of protecting her children. With a disabled child, fleeing to a safer location wasn’t an option. She quickly gathered mattresses and blankets, creating a makeshift shelter in the hallway where the family huddled together.
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As the storm raged, glass shattered, wind roared with such force that it seemed to vibrate through the floors, and immense pressure filled the air. The children screamed and cried, and all Chelsey could do was pray that the roof wouldn’t come off.
When the storm finally passed, she ventured outside to assess the damage. It was pitch black, making it impossible to take in the full extent of the devastation. Emergency lights flashed in the distance, debris was strewn everywhere, and the power was out, leaving them with no way to check the news. Exhausted and overwhelmed, the family fell asleep in the hallway, only to be woken by housing authorities instructing them to evacuate immediately.
Chelsey’s car was totaled, leaving them stranded with nowhere to go. Their home was uninhabitable—damaged roof, broken windows, buckled floors, and furniture soaked from water. Still, she felt immense gratitude that her family had escaped without physical injuries.
In the days and weeks that followed, their biggest challenge was finding stable housing, particularly one that was wheelchair accessible. Initially, they were taken to a shelter, but with no local hotels available, they found a hotel in Tennessee. Chelsey submitted housing applications, but the only option was an upstairs apartment—a challenging arrangement for a wheelchair-bound child, but it had to suffice.
Being displaced to Tennessee meant they couldn’t access local assistance. Thankfully, the Mayfield School System became a lifeline. They provided wheelchair-accessible transportation, located handicap-accessible hotels, and supported them in countless ways. "They were our angels in so many ways," Chelsey would later say.​
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The impact of the tornado was devastating, leaving an emotional toll on everyone. Initially, the community came together, but over time, tensions arose as jealousy and competition over assistance emerged. Long-term, the family’s biggest challenge remained finding suitable housing.
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Through it all, prayer was a constant source of strength. The American Red Cross connected her with the Mayfield Graves Long Term Recovery Group (MGC LTRG), and her caseworker, Esther, became a beacon of hope. "We love her and will forever be grateful," Chelsey said of Esther’s unwavering dedication. After two years in the upstairs apartment, the family finally moved into their forever home, made possible through the New Lease on Life program. "It has been our biggest blessing," Chelsey reflected.
The tornado changed Chelsey’s perspective on life and preparedness. Today, her family has a storm shelter, a weather radio, and important documents safely stored. She was seven months pregnant at the time of the storm, with three other children, one of whom was disabled. They were displaced, without transportation, and faced incredible challenges. Yet, they persevered.
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"I got through some of my toughest moments with God and prayer," Chelsey said. “When friends and family weren’t there, He was.” Her advice to anyone facing a similar situation: "Stick together. Help each other out. Most importantly, pray."