Kentucky Records More Than Half Cases
At least 27 people have died after a powerful storm system tore through parts of the U.S. Midwest and South, with 18 fatalities reported in Kentucky alone.
Local officials say hundreds more are injured or displaced, and rescue efforts are ongoing amid widespread destruction.
Seventeen of Kentucky’s deaths occurred in Laurel County, in the state’s southeast, where a tornado ripped through homes, flung vehicles, and flattened entire neighbourhoods. One fatality was Pulaski County Fire Department veteran Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman, who died while responding to the storm. He had served for nearly four decades.
“This is a tragedy of staggering scale,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on Saturday. “We’ve lost neighbours, friends, even first responders. We need the world to be good neighbours now.”
Ten others remain in critical condition in hospitals across the state. At least two dozen state roads were closed, and authorities warn some may take days to reopen.
“It sounded like a freight train.”
In London, the county seat of Laurel, Kayla Patterson and her family, including five children, huddled in a basement tub as the tornado roared overhead.
“You could literally hear things ripping, glass shattering… it sounded like a freight train,” she said. Though their home survived, several houses behind them were obliterated.
Another resident, Chris Cromer, 46, fled to a relative’s home after receiving a tornado alert at 11:30 p.m. He described the storm’s arrival as “surreal.”
“We could hear and feel the vibration of the tornado coming through,” Cromer said. “It makes you thankful to be alive.”
Emergency crews worked through the night to pull survivors from the debris. Shelters have opened in schools and churches, and donations are being collected.
Tornadoes strike across several states
The same storm system caused deaths in other states, seven in Missouri and two in northern Virginia, according to local officials. St. Louis alone reported five fatalities and 38 injuries. Mayor Cara Spencer described the damage to over 5,000 homes as “heartbreaking.”
One of the victims, 72-year-old Patricia Penelton, died when part of the Centennial Christian Church collapsed. Her son-in-law, Stacy Clark, said she was a devoted volunteer and choir member.
Missouri’s Forest Park area, home to the St. Louis Zoo, was hit by a likely tornado. Fallen trees severely damaged the butterfly house’s roof, although most of the butterflies were quickly recovered, zoo officials said.
Further south, in Scott County, Missouri, two people were killed and multiple homes destroyed, according to Sheriff Derick Wheetley.
Storm warnings hampered by staffing cuts
The storms come amid a critical staffing shortage at National Weather Service (NWS) offices. The NWS branch in Jackson, Kentucky, had a 25% vacancy rate as of March, while Louisville’s office was down 29% and lacked a permanent chief. St. Louis was also short-staffed by 16%.
Experts warn that these shortages may impact early warnings and response capabilities during life-threatening events.
More storms expected
The National Weather Service has forecast more supercell development across Texas, Oklahoma, and the southern Plains through the weekend. Risks include hail up to 3.5 inches wide, damaging wind gusts, and more tornadoes.
Each year, the U.S. records about 1,200 tornadoes. However, recent studies show these deadly storms are shifting from the traditional Tornado Alley into more densely populated areas of the mid-South.
As communities reel from this latest round of extreme weather, officials say recovery efforts will require sustained support and swift action to prevent further loss.
Read more on How Climate Change is Affecting Weather Patterns
