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Tornadoes tore through four states on Dec. 10 and 11, traveling from Arkansas to Kentucky. Items picked up by these tornadoes seem to have traveled for over 100 miles in some instances before being dropped in fields and yards across Kentucky and Indiana.
A Facebook page has been set up to help reunite the owners of these items with their lost photos, toys and other keepsakes. Quad State Tornado Found Items has over 45,000 members and is currently seeing over 1,000 posts a day. It’s a remarkably efficient operation — sometimes connecting members with their lost mementos within minutes.
Here are a selection of the posts that have been made. Some are success stories, some are not — or at least not yet.
Found in Princeton, Kentucky
The original poster has found the owner of this keepsake. Photo via Lara Beth WynnFound in Derby, Indiana Photo via Robyn-Tod KennedyFound in Bowling Green, Kentucky
”Found 12/11/21 in Bowling Green KY. Couple hours after we were hit. Located in debris in the Springhill area. I cleaned Geoffrey and hoping to find its owner.” Photo via Brandy LindseyFound in Princeton, Kentucky
A photograph and empty Michael Kors bag, found in a wheat field. Photo via Owen KylerFound in Jeffersonville, Indiana
“Happy to mail it to owner.” Photo via Lisa CarvisFound in Owensboro, Kentucky
Commenters believe this photo depicts past students of Reidland High School, two hours away from Owensboro. Photo via Jason DillFound in Brandenburg, Kentucky
A torn photo of the former sheriff of Muhlenberg County, Charles “Eddie” Perry, who died in 2019. Stephanie Pawlak Black found the picture on her property in Brandenburg, which is around 100 miles from Muhlenberg County. The owner has been located. Photo via Stephanie Pawlak BlackFound in Owensboro, Kentucky
The back of the photograph says “Clay Groves 4 yr. 2006” Photo via Wayne LewisFound in Lewisport, Kentucky Photo via Anita LamarFound in Elizabeth, Indiana
A check found an hour and 45 minutes from Hartford, Kentucky, where the person who issued it was from. Photo via Phil N Amanda BurnsFound in Bremen, Kentucky
A pink Bible with a marriage certificate. No owner found yet. “Feel free to message me and I’d be glad to return them to their rightful owners.” Photo via Jessica WellmanFound in Hartford, Kentucky
The original poster thinks he’s reunited this sign with its owner, located over 30 minutes away. Photo via Luke TroutmanFound in Symsonia, Kentucky
Adams Gin Co., where the paper in this photo is from, is located around 150 miles from Symsonia and was destroyed by this weekend’s tornadoes. A commenter claims it belongs to him. The photo has yet to be identified. Photo via Jillian MurphyFound in Utica, Kentucky
The owner of this photo has been found, a mom in the hard-hit town of Mayfield, Kentucky, around two hours from Utica. Photo via Tammy McCubbins RiceFound in Calhoun, Kentucky
The back of the photograph says “Groves” and “2004.” Photo via Ann Fulkerson HowardFound in Charlestown State Park, Charlestown, Indiana
The original poster says that this photo has been claimed by a person in Belton Kentucky, he says the will be mailing it tomorrow. Photo via Kevin WiseheartFound in Paducah, Kentucky
Commenters believe this photo comes from Monette, Arkansa, almost three hours from Paducah. Photo via Brenda DerrFound in New Albany, Indiana
”Hi everyone, my brother found this photo in his yard today in New Albany, IN. Please let me know if anyone recognizes. Thanks!” Photo via Tammy JonesFound in Brandenburg, Kentucky
”Developed at Walmart in 2013. Does anyone know this person.” Photo via Tracy BoardFound in Rome, Indiana
Commenters believe this photo was taken in the tornado-torn Dawson Springs, Kentucky, around two hours and over 100 miles from Rome, Indiana. Photo via Debra Rogier