TAMMY BLAKEMORE
Encontrar fortaleza a través de la fe y la comunidad
La noche del 10 de diciembre de 2021, Tammy Blakemore se estaba preparando para recibir la visita de su hija, que vive en California. Tammy y su hija habían hablado del pronóstico del tiempo, pero Tamy no estaba demasiado preocupada porque siempre había escuchado el mito de que Mayfield estaba demasiado bajo para que un tornado lo golpeara. Le resultaba extraño que hiciera tanto calor para una noche de diciembre. Sin darse cuenta de que un tornado se dirigía hacia ella, sus pensamientos estaban más centrados en hacer recados que en buscar refugio.
A medida que los vientos se intensificaban, Tammy decidió refugiarse en su baño y al principio mantuvo la calma. Su preocupación aumentó cuando se fue la luz. Recuerda: “Le envié un mensaje de texto a mi familia y les dije que se acercaba un tornado y que los amaba. Escuché el sonido del tren del que habla la gente. Escuché los árboles golpeando mi casa. Estaba lloviendo muy fuerte. No tuve idea de lo fuerte que era hasta el día siguiente”.
Al día siguiente, Tammy descubrió la destrucción que había dejado el tornado. Árboles y ramas habían caído sobre su techo, creando un agujero que permitía que la lluvia se filtrara y dañara su dormitorio y sus muebles. Pronto, el moho y los hongos se sumaron a los daños. Las ventanas de su auto estaban destrozadas, dejándola sin poder conducir. “Estaba en modo supervivencia”, dice Tammy. “Es difícil para mí salir de casa debido a mi discapacidad. Me preocupaba que mi salud empeorara. Tenía algo de dinero, pero no lo suficiente para una estadía prolongada en un hotel. Simplemente no podía creer que esta devastación hubiera sucedido en Mayfield”.
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.
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.
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.
"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."