'I had me to offer': Durham man drives to Kentucky to assist in aftermath of storms
The devastation from tornadoes in western Kentucky has many wanting to help. At least 74 people died in that state alone.
Durham resident Matt Harris said he was hit hard by the tornado damage he saw on the news, so he hit the road.
"[I was ] watching the news when the tornadoes came through ... and the people missing their family right before Christmas touched me," said Harris.
Harris lives alone and works two jobs. He said that, while he didn't have much money to donate to disaster relief efforts, he had something else to send to the hurting people of Kentucky.
"I had me to offer," said Harris.
On Monday, Harris threw a bunch of tools in his car and headed west on Interstate 40. He drove over 12 hours through Knoxville, Nashville and other cities until he finally arrived in shattered Mayfield, Kentucky.
"It takes your breath away," said Harris.
He slept in his car, in a church parking lot.
He signed up to be a volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, the North Carolina-based aid group led by Franklin Graham, and offered up his construction and electrical skills.
"I've talked about [going] every time, but for whatever reason, I don't. I listen to people who tell me I shouldn't. This time, I was like 'I don't care what people tell me, I'm going,'" said Harris.
Harris said he plans on staying in Kentucky for two weeks, or possibly longer.
"It's overwhelming, but you basically just start somewhere," he added. "It'll take an army of people."
