With Nightmares and Tears, a Kentucky Town Feels the Long Reach of a Tornado’s Trauma
The New York Times
The physical toll on Mayfield, Ky., is evident. The psychological anguish will be equally difficult to overcome.
MAYFIELD, Ky. — Isaiah Holt passes his days sequestered in a home that was not touched by the tornado. Still, he cannot escape the storm.
He sustained nerve damage while trapped in the rubble of the candle factory where he worked and fears it will be permanent. His skin is etched with cuts and chemical burns. A strong gust of wind or an exploding building in an action movie can unleash in him a rush of terror. Lately he has spent $400 on DoorDash deliveries, as the pain — physical but also psychological — makes it difficult to venture outside. His dining table is littered with bags from McDonald’s.
“I felt good today,” Mr. Holt, 32, said on a recent afternoon. He had made a few phone calls. He took a shower. He confessed that it was only the second one he had taken in 2022.
