One year after a destructive EF3 tornado ripped through parts of Jeffersontown, you can still see some of the damage it left behind. Some businesses still have tarps covering their windows, as workers can be seen replacing brick siding and patching roofs. For JSO Wood Products owner Steve Kitts, he’s finally seeing progress at his business. “Nothing could happen until the roof got put up, and it just got put up maybe a month ago. So it took ten months to get a roof down here,” said Kitts. “So this is kind of a point where we know it’s real. We’re getting ready to come back in here next week, and we’re super, super excited.”The tornado affected 38 businesses in total. Some were completely flattened, while others had siding or roof damage. Brian Abrams, the director of economic development for the City of Jeffersontown, said it caused more than $100 million worth of damage across the Bluegrass Industrial Park.”The thing is, the city is forever indebted to these businesses , their loyalty and their trust in our city and our Mayor, Carol Pike. They are the lifeblood of the city. They’re the ones who put up the lion’s share of all the finances to take care of our to support our resources,” said Abrams.He said that’s why the city did “all it could” to support them during their rebuilds, including waiving all fees for permitting during the demolition and building process.”What this amounts to is tens of thousands of dollars in savings to the business owners. The reason that’s so important is they needed it the very most,” said Abrams. Kitts said he’s thankful to Jeffersontown for the support.”The City of Jeffersontown has been great. The mayor came out here, deputy mayor, both were out here, I think, shortly after it happened, and we appreciated that kind of attention,” said Kitts. “There’s a lot more permitting and things to be done as these facilities get back up to where they were, so I have not heard any complaints.”Kitts said they plan to be fully back in their building by sometime next week.
One year after a destructive EF3 tornado ripped through parts of Jeffersontown, you can still see some of the damage it left behind.
Some businesses still have tarps covering their windows, as workers can be seen replacing brick siding and patching roofs.
For JSO Wood Products owner Steve Kitts, he’s finally seeing progress at his business.
“Nothing could happen until the roof got put up, and it just got put up maybe a month ago. So it took ten months to get a roof down here,” said Kitts. “So this is kind of a point where we know it’s real. We’re getting ready to come back in here next week, and we’re super, super excited.”
The tornado affected 38 businesses in total. Some were completely flattened, while others had siding or roof damage. Brian Abrams, the director of economic development for the City of Jeffersontown, said it caused more than $100 million worth of damage across the Bluegrass Industrial Park.
“The thing is, the city is forever indebted to these businesses [in the industrial park], their loyalty and their trust in our city and our Mayor, Carol Pike. They are the lifeblood of the city. They’re the ones who put up the lion’s share of all the finances to take care of our to support our resources,” said Abrams.
He said that’s why the city did “all it could” to support them during their rebuilds, including waiving all fees for permitting during the demolition and building process.
“What this amounts to is tens of thousands of dollars in savings to the business owners. The reason that’s so important is they needed it the very most,” said Abrams.
Kitts said he’s thankful to Jeffersontown for the support.
“The City of Jeffersontown has been great. The mayor came out here, deputy mayor, both were out here, I think, shortly after it happened, and we appreciated that kind of attention,” said Kitts. “There’s a lot more permitting and things to be done as these facilities get back up to where they were, so I have not heard any complaints.”
Kitts said they plan to be fully back in their building by sometime next week.
