FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a staging ground at Fort Campbell to distribute much-needed supplies to those affected by the tornados that swept through the Southeast last week.

According to FEMA spokesperson La-Tanga Hopes, trucks carrying “life-saving commodities” began arriving on Dec. 11 for distribution to areas such as Mayfield and Dawson Springs, Kentucky.

Temporary structures have been erected by FEMA near Gate 7 on Fort Campbell as a staging area to distribute supplies to those affected by tornado damage, Dec. 15, 2021 (Casey Williams)
Trucks carrying supplies arrived at Fort Campbell’s FEMA staging ground this week, Dec. 15, 2021 (Contributed)

The staging ground is just inside Gate 7 on Fort Campbell.

Garrison Commander Col. Andy Jordan was on site Wednesday night to assist FEMA as they arrived.

“We’re very lucky here to have the opportunity here to support this communitywide effort. We always want to help our fellow citizens, and I think that this allows the Army to continue to support us as we live and work in these communities. We have soldiers who have extended families that have been impacted by these storms, so it really gets personal,” Jordan said.

Twenty trucks full of supplies are expected, Hopes told Clarksville Now.

“They have water, MREs, tarps and plastic sheeting. Previously, we had cots, we’ve got blankets, we’ve got generators,” she said. “We’ll be able to accommodate their needs; and if we don’t have what we need here, we can blow a whistle and the rest will come.”

Hopes said distribution of supplies will be handled in conjunction with state and local leaders as well as local volunteer agencies.