Tornadoes claim lives of 19 Kentuckians after supercell sweeps across state
1. “My hat goes off and my heart goes out to all of the wonderful people of Laurel County and so many others who have lost so much,” said Derek McClure who took donations and supplies to London, Ky. “…While the town may be decimated, the spirit of their community is stronger than ever.” Photo courtesy of Derek McClure.
Mary Beth Sallee
Editor
Hart Co. News-Herald
A tornadic supercell that began in Missouri last Friday traveled more than 500 miles, creating a trail of destruction across the state and claiming the lives of 19 Kentuckians on the evening of May 16.
The supercell, which originated in southern Missouri, produced tornadoes from southeast Missouri, through southern Kentucky, and to nearly the Virginia border, ending just west of Whitesburg, Ky., in Letcher County.
One of the hardest hit areas was London, Ky., located in Laurel County, where 17 people were killed after a tornado struck just before midnight eastern time. The victims included 10 females and 7 males, ranging in age from 25 to 76. According to an early assessment from the National Weather Service (NWS), winds in London reached 136-165 MPH, designating the tornado an EF-3. By May 19, NWS had upgraded the tornado a high-end EF-3 to a low-end EF-4.
Severe damage occurred after tornadoes swept through the towns of London and Somerset. Photo courtesy of Derek McClure.
In Somerset, Ky., located in Pulaski County, 1 individual, a female, was killed. NWS initially reported that at least an EF-2 tornado, with 111-135 MPH winds, had touched down in the city, with the possibility of low-end EF-3 damage.
This same tornado that struck in Somerset and later in London is believed to have first touched down near Eli, Ky., a community located in Russell County. The distance between Eli and London is approximately 56 miles.
Sunday morning, it was confirmed that an adult female in Russell County had lost her life due to the severe weather. The NWS has stated that the tornado’s strength in Russell County was an EF-2, with 111-135 MPH winds.
A tornado decimated multiple homes after touching down in the town of London, Ky. Photo courtesy of Derek McClure.
Even in such tragic loss, hope has persevered through the aftermath as many kind-hearted individuals traveled to those towns devastated by the tornadic supercell.
Derek McClure and John Ready with the Hart County Veteran’s Committee (HCVC) traveled to London on Saturday morning to take donations to those in need.
“After spending several hours at ground zero, Sunnyside Lane subdivision specifically (in London), I can say that the media is missing out on one specific thing,” McClure said. “While the town may be decimated, the spirit of their community is stronger than ever! Walking along the streets and passing out supplies and talking with them, these folks were lost and broken, but were still laughing and remaining positive, even making light of the random possessions that survived unscathed while concrete cinder blocks were hurled 50 yards away as if they were weightless. This disaster is absolutely traumatizing for their residents and anyone who shows up to provide assistance, but somehow these folks are maintaining their silver linings in the face of absolute chaos.”
“My hat goes off and my heart goes out to all of the wonderful people of Laurel County and so many others who have lost so much,” McClure added. “The HCVC will continue to provide support through donations over the coming weeks and make another trip over to them once the county and their churches begin accepting donations once again. Thank you to all who’ve donated, shared posts, and reached out over the last 24 hours to lend positive words.”
Over the weekend, Governor Andy Beshear visited storm-damaged areas in the state.
“We’ve had more than our fair share of natural disasters in Kentucky in recent years,” said Governor Beshear. “And while we can’t know why Kentucky keeps getting hit and it feels tough for our people to be facing this level of pain and destruction, one thing we know here in the Commonwealth is how to come together, live our faith and values, and help our neighbors in their time of need.”
According to the National Weather Service, preliminary survey results also show that an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 155 miles-per-hour traveled through Morganfield, Ky., in Union County (western Kentucky) last Friday. No deaths in this area were reported.
A supercell that spawned multiple tornadoes began on May 16 in Missouri and traveled more than 500 miles through Kentucky. At least 19 people lost their lives in Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell Counties. Photo courtesy of Derek McClure.
Five storm-related fatalities were confirmed in the St. Louis, Mo., metro area. The tornado that struck Sikeston, Mo., was designated an EF-3 and claimed the lives of two individuals.
The information provided in this news story is accurate as of presstime.
The National Weather Service was able to capture imagery from NASA’s Terra satellite, which shows the tornadic path from Eli, Ky., into the London, Ky., area. The arrow in the photo pinpoints what is known as a tornado scar coming into the London area. A tornado scar is a visible, long-lasting track left on the Earth’s surface by a tornado. It can be seen in the disruption of vegetation, soil erosion, and reshaping of the ground.
