The number of fatalities is expected to rise as search-and-rescue teams continue to comb through the debris and devastation.
Severe storms that swept across the Midwest and South on Friday killed at least 23 people and injured dozens more, with Kentucky and Missouri among the hardest hit, according to officials.
In Kentucky alone, at least 14 fatalities have been confirmed, according to a May 17 statement from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
“Sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information,” he wrote in a post on social media. “Please pray for all of our affected families.”
The powerful weather system that swept through Kentucky on Friday also left a trail of destruction across several states, killing seven in Missouri and two in northern Virginia, spawning tornadoes in Wisconsin, baking Texas in extreme heat, and covering parts of Illinois in a thick veil of dust.
Most of the Kentucky deaths were reported in Laurel County, where local officials said a tornado likely touched down around midnight near the London-Corbin Airport. The storm leveled homes, tossed vehicles, and left behind widespread destruction in the largely rural area.
“Lives have been changed forever here tonight. This is a time we come together, and we pray for this community,” London Mayor Randall Weddle told WKYT-TV. “I have never personally witnessed what I‘ve witnessed here tonight.”
Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of the storms and activated the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center, allowing for a faster deployment of resources. On Saturday morning, he said more than 100,000 residents remained without power, five counties had declared local emergencies, and search-and-rescue teams were still combing debris fields for survivors.
“This is another tough morning for Kentucky after a night of deadly weather,” he posted, adding that he had spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, FEMA officials, and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs about getting the support needed to recover and rebuild from the devastation.
By Tom Ozimek
