Kentucky Troops Provide Security in Wake of Tornado

March 1, 2012
Courtesy of Kentucky National Guard
Hodgenville, KY, United States

It only took about the same amount of time for a commercial to run on television, but it was long enough for some residents in LaRue County to see their lives turned upside down.

It turned out to be an EF-2 tornado that did all the damage, ripping through Hodgenville, KY, on Wednesday, destroying homes and barns throughout the community.

“This was a skipping tornado,” said John Gordon, chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “It wasn’t continuously in touch with the ground. It skipped along. In some areas where it came down, it got real low to the ground and did significant damage.”

The situation was bad enough that they called Frankfort for assistance in keeping looters away from the damaged homes.

Enter the Kentucky National Guard’s 138th Fires Brigade and 2nd Lieutenant Sean Jones.

Jones, a native of Louisville, got a call at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon and was on the scene with a dozen Soldiers for the first shift by 5 p.m. to assist the residents hardest hit in LaRue County.

A lot of the relief workers, police and rescue crews seemed to feel a sense of relief to see the Guard members. Some even shook hands and said so to the Soldiers when they rolled in with their vehicles.

“The Guard being here means safety,” said Mayor Terry L. Cruse. “These people have lost a lot, and to have the security the Soldiers provide, it's one less thing they have to worry about.”

The mayor was in a sweatshirt and traveling on foot in the devastated areas consoling some of the residents of his town, along with Police Chief Steve Johnson who was nearby doing the same.

“This type of disaster is very personal to me,” said Jones. “My parents home was hit by a tornado in 1996, and anytime I can serve my fellow Kentuckians in need is what the Guard is about.”

Thirty troops from the Kentucky National Guard were activated to assist police and help deter looters overnight, as many of the homes were torn wide open.

At least two people had been arrested for looting on Thursday.

Jones reported there were no issues overnight Thursday as the Guard Soldiers set up vehicle security points and ran multiple roving foot patrols to enhance property security. The troops matched driver's license addresses to the residents' addresses, in relation to the neighborhood they were trying to enter, and then they provided escorts as well.

“The police department here is fantastic,” said Jones. “They’re just undermanned for something like this.”

“It means a lot to us,” said Cruse. “The Soldiers have a presence and they take care of business, and we all appreciate it.”

The 138th’s mission in LaRue County is expected to end by this weekend.