City officials recount the deadly December tornadoes three years later

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – It was a scary sight in Bowling Green, both during and after not one but two tornadoes blew through the city.

Mayor Todd Alcott told News 40 that he went to the police department early that Saturday morning which would be the start of a long day. At the department, Alcott would find Chief Michael Delaney, who had actually been at the station some hours earlier dealing with a separate issue, meaning he never left work that day.

Chief Delaney said in his interview when he recalls that day, he remembers a slight moment of dread, saying “what are we going to do?” when he saw the the incredible damage that Saturday morning in the pitch black.

Coordination efforts were massive with first responders, leaving behind jurisdiction and focusing on “us”. Mayor Alcott said that donations were coming in from all over the country, even across the water which caused the city to have to store donations in other places like Franklin. That situation was the first that any sitting officials dealt with FEMA as well.

Alcott recounts First Lady Jill Biden and Governor Andy Beshear visiting Bowling Green in the following days, which meant a lot to him and other members of city government, showing great support for the local disaster.

Search and rescue efforts were also top of mind for first responders, even having out of state help. Chief Justin Brooks of the Bowling Green Fire Department saying that it was a long journey but one that he and his team would gladly take on again and will if the call goes out.