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'It was a miracle that nobody was hurt': First responder says December tornadoes were on the mind Wednesday

Jordan Yuodis, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Fire Department, said it shows the spirit of Kentucky.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Crews worked all day to clear the mess a tornado left behind in Southeast Jefferson County.

Jordan Yuodis, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Fire Department, said while it’s true first responders played a huge role in the cleanup, so did the community.

“It’s the old cliché saying – it’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Yuodis said.

Whether that’s picking up debris, helping to fix a roof or just lending support, Yuodis said it all helped in the tornado’s aftermath.

“It goes to show you there’s still good people in the world,” Yuodis said.

He said people may not have expected that a tornado could touch down in Louisville. Though unexpected, he said Kentuckians likely had last year’s devastation in the front of their minds.

“A lot of us go back to December 10,” Yuodis said. “A lot of us spent a lot of time in Mayfield, Kentucky in Graves County., so our minds were already there, so I think once people heard there was a tornado, we instantly went back to that.”

Now, the damage hit closer. For Yuodis, only about a mile from his home.

“It hits a little different when it’s your own home when you’re out working protecting your community and you don’t know what your own home looks like,” Yuodis said.

Luckily, there were still no major injuries to report as of Thursday night.

“We were really blown away when we saw some of the damage in some of the neighborhoods that nobody was hurt,” Yuodis said. “It was a miracle that nobody was hurt.”

A miracle that Louisvillians won’t forget, surrounded by neighbors that’ll help them pick up the pieces.

“I think it goes to show, I may be biased but I think Kentucky is the best place on earth,” Yuodis said.

He said the Jefferson County Fire Department’s operation is over; they were set up in the area for nearly 24 hours, but he said they will be available if needed.

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