WEBVTT

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- The hills of West Liberty
weren't enough to protect this

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small Kentucky community from the wrath

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of a deadly tornado on March 2nd.

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The scene is unlike anything a

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Hollywood set director would create.

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Between the shredded
lumber that was once walls,

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twisted metal of cars and
roofs, and bits of insulation

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lay pictures, toys,
clothes, and anything else

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that would normally make a house a home.

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With the help of the
Kentucky National Guard,

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civilians who work for
emergency management

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and contracting companies,
the survivors can begin

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to pick up the pieces of
their shattered lives.

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- Oh, they have been great.

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I've seen 'em keep the looters out.

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I've seen 'em walk in the roads.

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I've seen 'em bring food
to people, bring water.

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I've seen 'em help people board up stuff.

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I've seen 'em just patrolling
and keeping around the area,

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making sure people are safe
and letting 'em know that

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we have a first aid
station, if you guys need

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even a band-aid, come see
us, you know, and let us know

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where it's at, so
they've been really good.

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- [Rebecca] Kentucky National Guardsmen

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work so hard because they have an

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emotional attachment to
the people of Kentucky.

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- If you look behind me,
that's Randy Williams'

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karate school, and I've competed in

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tournaments against his
folks, his students.

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I've known him and his people for years,

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so it brings it home, it's heartbreaking.

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Only Kentucky Guardsmen can do this.

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We're here to help people
in Kentucky because

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these are our friends and
neighbors and our family.

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If it happened in my
neighborhood, I know I'm gonna

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turn around and I'm gonna
see another Guardsman,

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and that's why we do what we do.

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- [Rebecca] The attachment a
Kentucky National Guardsmen

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feels towards helping fellow
Kentuckians is also laced

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with a sense of duty and
pride to state and country.

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- In National Guard,
I mean, homeland stuff

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is what we're supposed to do.

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I mean, that is our job.

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So, coming out here and actually
being able to do what we,

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some of us, most of us signed
up to do, makes us feel good.

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- West Liberty was declared
a disaster area by President

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Obama, and will receive
funds to rebuild their town.

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From West Liberty, Kentucky,

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I'm Army Staff Sergeant Rebecca Wood.