Agencies will hold ceremony for tornado’s 20th anniversary

December 10, 2019 | 3:20 am

Updated December 9, 2019 | 9:08 pm

The National Weather Service (NWS) of Paducah and Daviess County Emergency Management will hold a commemoration ceremony, honoring the 20-year anniversary of the tornado that hit the area on Jan. 3, 2000.

The agencies are seeking participants who were greatly affected by the weather event, and would like at least two residents to speak.

Officials are asking the public for photos and memorabilia from the tornado to display around the room at Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Winchester Campus Community Center, where the ceremony will be held.

One or two volunteers who sustained injuries from or were greatly impacted by the F-3 tornado will have two minutes to speak about their experiences.

The 2000 tornado caused damage to thousands of homes, businesses and schools as it touched down in southwest Owensboro during the late afternoon of Jan. 3. Hundreds of residents were left temporarily homeless and sought refuge with family members, friends or stayed in shelters and hotels during the storm’s aftermath.

The incident was so devastating to the community that it prompted the installation of emergency sirens across the entire County so that residents would be given audible warning of severe storms in the future.

This commemoration ceremony will be held Jan. 3, 2020 at the Kentucky Wesleyan Winchester Campus Community Center — Rogers Hall, located at 3000 Frederica Street.

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will include 10 minutes of opening remarks from former Judge-Executive Reid Haire, former Mayor Ron Payne and DCEMA Director Any Ball, a brief meteorological review of the event from NWS Paducah Meteorologist Rich Shanklin, remarks from two citizens impacted by the storm, closing remarks and a 30-minute open mic session for public comments.

Those interested in speaking or sharing pictures or memorabilia can contact Andy Ball at 270-685-8448 or at [email protected].

December 10, 2019 | 3:20 am

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