January 2026
Winter Storm Fern
Tompkinsville, KY (Monroe County)
Story by Kelly DeWitt

But for five nights in late January, Jackie was back on familiar turf. Jackie was one of 20 local community members who took refuge in the old Monroe County High School gym after it was established as an American Red Cross shelter Jan. 26.

“It hasn’t changed that much, but they took out a bunch of bleachers. I went down and checked out the old weightroom and the old dressing area, it looked a whole lot different from when I went to school here.”

Jackie was transported to the shelter after his sister-in-law called the sheriff’s office for a welfare check. He had been without power for more than 24 hours and was down to the last of his firewood.

“The sheriff gave me a choice of coming to the old high school building, or to the basement of the courthouse. I got in here and went, wow, it’s changed since I went to school here. I haven’t been in the gym since I graduated high school.”

Jackie said he met a whole lot of good people in the shelter and exchanged phone numbers with other residents as they transitioned back to their homes.

Jackie’s power came back on Jan. 30, but he wasn’t quite ready to leave. “I’m gonna miss all of y’all," he said. “You treated us great. You made sure we didn’t go cold and made sure we didn’t go hungry.”