Frankfort: A powerful spring weather system unleashed deadly tornadoes across the U.S. Midwest and Ohio River Valley, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least 25 people in Kentucky and Missouri, according to state and local officials.
In Kentucky, the brunt of the damage occurred in Laurel County, approximately 80 miles south of Lexington, where a tornado touched down around midnight. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that at least 17 people were killed in the area, and another fatality was reported in nearby Pulaski County.
“This is another tough morning for Kentucky after a night of deadly weather,” Beshear stated in a social media post on Saturday. The governor has declared a state of emergency in response to the devastation.
In neighboring Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe also issued an emergency declaration. Seven people were confirmed dead due to the storms, including five in the St. Louis area. A tornado that ripped through the city left destruction in its path, killing multiple residents and injuring at least 38 others.
Aerial footage and images shared on social media reveal widespread damage in Laurel County, where entire blocks of homes were obliterated, vehicles were mangled, and debris littered the area. Laurel County Sheriff John Root described the situation as “a mass casualty event,” noting that emergency crews were actively searching for survivors among the wreckage.
Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, said 22 families had been displaced and were being housed in emergency shelters. “Their homes were completely destroyed right down to the ground,” Acciardo said. He identified the tornado as an EF5, the most severe classification on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
The catastrophic event has drawn comparisons to the December 2021 tornado that tore through Mayfield, Kentucky, killing 22 people in Graves County, including eight who perished when a candle factory collapsed.
In St. Louis, the tornado that struck Friday evening damaged over 5,000 properties and tore through neighborhoods during rush hour, downing power lines and ripping roofs off homes. Mayor Cara Spencer, who took office just a month ago, said, “Our city is grieving tonight. The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous.”
Local resident Joan Miller shared a harrowing account of surviving the storm. “The wind started, the tree out front was shaking so violently,” she said. “And suddenly all the doors shut, the windows flew out from the bedroom … the entire back of my house … you can see straight into the alley now.”
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The National Weather Service reported widespread thunderstorms across the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys on Friday. At least six tornadoes touched down across Missouri and Illinois, with severe weather extending as far as the Atlantic Coast. A tornado was also reported in New Jersey.
Tragically, two additional deaths were reported in Fairfax County, Virginia, where falling trees struck vehicles during the storm.
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U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she had spoken with the governors of Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois, offering federal assistance in the recovery efforts. “We discussed how while emergency management is best led by local authorities, we reinforced that DHS stands ready to take immediate action to offer resources and support,” she posted on social media.
Secretary Noem, a vocal proponent of shifting more disaster response responsibilities to states, reaffirmed that the Department of Homeland Security is prepared to assist despite the federal budget’s proposed cuts to FEMA under the Trump administration.
