KENTUCKY — Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman of the Laurel County Fire Department is among those dead after Friday's severe storms in Kentucky, the department announced on social media. This is after a tornado sparked what authorities called a mass casualty event in the southeastern part of the state.
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., confirmed 18 deaths on social media; he said all but one were in Laurel County. At least one person from Pulaski County is also dead.
Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries after an apparent tornado tore across Laurel County late Friday, causing structures to crumble and even flipping over a car on I-75.
“The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,” the office of Sheriff John Root said in a statement posted on social media. An emergency shelter was set up at South Laurel High School and donations of food and other necessities were arriving.
Gov. Beshear also announced the American Red Cross has set up a shelter at the First Baptist Church, 804 W. Fifth Street, in London. He said if others open, the information will be shared.
“The outpouring from our community has been heartwarming. We are continuing to accept donations,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Spokesman Gilbert Acciardo said rescuers have “been on the ground all night looking for possible survivors. That’s what we’re continuing to do.”
According to the Laurel County Fiscal Court Facebook page, there are at least 12 deaths in Laurel County. They say that number is expected to climb because the storm tore through several residential neighborhoods. They added rescue and recovery operations are ongoing in the Sunshine Hills and Hart Church Road areas.
Laurel County Sheriff deputies and the coroner’s office are working to identify those killed in the storm.
Laurel County Judge-Executive David Westerfield confirmed that the Maximus facility on Ky. 1006 has been heavily damaged. It is a health care customer service business. The London-Laurel County Industrial Authority was also damaged. Westerfield said London-Laurel County Fairgrounds suffered major damage.
The storm, which ripped across the rural area and extended to the London Corbin Airport, hit shortly before midnight.
The Troublesome Creek Times, a Knott County newspaper, shared pictures of London, Kentucky from Saturday morning. The destruction is evident.
Rep. Derek Lewis, R-London, has spoken and coordinated with Kentucky Emergency Management and local officials. He stressed to his community that help is coming.
The Louisville Fire Department sent 24 men to London—12 from the Louisville Fire Department and 12 from Jefferson County Search and Rescue. According to the department, the men mobilized as a unified Level 3 USAR (Urban Search and Rescue).
The National Weather service in Jackson, Kentucky, said it is sending a storm survey team to the London and Somerset areas. According to the National Weather Service Louisville, the main supercell tracked all across the 120 miles it covers in south central Kentucky. NWS Louisville is sending a survey crew to Russell County to investigate the Eli area, while it continues to collect reports of areas hit by the storms.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, said on X she has been in contact with the Midwest governors affected by the storm.
Road closures and repairs
Crews with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 8 are working in multiple areas.
trees, clear debris and addressMaintenance crews worked through the night and continue to remove downed trees, clear debris, and deal with other hazards affecting roads.
KYTC District 8 says damage in Pulaski County is extensive—particularly on the south side of Somerset. Crews have found numerous downed power lines and fallen trees. KYTC crews are working with first responders and utility companies to clear roads and restore access to areas as quickly and safely as they can.
Missouri pounded by storms, with deaths confirmed in St. Louis
The storms were part of a weather system Friday that killed seven in Missouri and also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.
“This is truly, truly devastating,” Spencer said, adding that the city was in the process of declaring an emergency and an overnight curfew Friday had been put into place in the neighborhoods with the most damage.
The number of people injured was not immediately known. Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in serious condition and most expected to be discharged by Friday night, according to hospital spokesperson Laura High.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital received 15 patients with two of them expected to remain in the hospital into the weekend, she said.
National Weather Service radar showed a tornado touched down between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. in Clayton, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. The apparent tornado touched down in Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games the same year.
At Centennial Christian Church, City of St. Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people died.
Stacy Clark said his mother-in-law Patricia Penelton died in the church. He described her as a very active church volunteer who had many roles, including being part of the choir.
Jeffrey Simmons Sr., who lives across from the church, heard an alert on his phone and then the lights went out.
“And next thing you know, a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said. He and his brother went into the basement. Later, he realized it was worse than he thought. “Everything was tore up.”
Downed trees and stop lights also caused traffic gridlock during the Friday afternoon commute and officials urged people to stay home.
Christy Childs, a St. Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. Childs said all animals were safe, and that there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.
“We can’t definitively say whether or not it was a tornado — it likely was,” National Weather Service meteorologist Marshall Pfahler said.
