US EditionKentucky Tornado Survivors Rely on Support From Local Community and State as Governor Urges Feds for Help
- On May 20, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appealed to the President for urgent federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts following deadly tornadoes that impacted multiple counties, including Laurel and Pulaski.
- The request followed an EF-4 tornado on May 16 that traveled 55 miles with winds up to 170 mph, leaving at least 19 dead and over 1,500 homes destroyed or severely damaged.
- Local communities in severely hit areas like Sunshine Hills have relied heavily on volunteers and nonprofits such as Kentucky Serves while FEMA has conducted preliminary damage assessments amid some complaints about its absence.
- In his letter, Beshear projected debris removal expenses exceeding $59 million for an estimated volume surpassing 1.5 million cubic yards, cautioning that the disaster's effects would be widespread and noting that over 800 individuals remain housed in temporary accommodations.
- The disaster declaration would enable federal aid for individuals and infrastructure, supporting recovery efforts as local lodging fills with survivors and tourism faces likely long-term setbacks.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Kentucky tornado survivor finds strength in community as volunteers help clean up debris
Jerry Blanton has lived in Laurel County his whole life, but the tornado that hit London last week left him with a memory he'll never forget."I got out the shower and walk outside to my front porch. All of sudden I hear a sound. It's hard to describe because I never heard of it before. Then it just kept getting louder and louder. I realized something was wrong. I run in the house to get my wife and two dogs, rush into the bathroom, then it hit j…
The Sentinel-Echo
UPDATE: President Trump approves disaster declaration for Kentucky
A week after the deadly tornado struck London, President Donald Trump has approved the commonwealth's request for a federal disaster declaration that will activate FEMA resources for survivors in Laurel County.
Richmond Register
LINK nkyAs tornado disrupts region’s tourism economy, Beshear asks Trump for expedited disaster declaration
An initial state assessment finds it could cost more than $59 million to clean up more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris from buildings and vegetation damaged by a tornado that tore through Somerset and London last week.
The Paducah Sun
timesleader.netBeshear seeks expedited disaster relief for deadly tornado outbreak
FRANKFORT — Gov. Andy Beshear has sent a letter to President Trump requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for Kentucky due to the deadly tornado outbreak that began May 16, and led to 19 deaths -17 in Laurel County and…
As tornado disrupts region's tourism economy, Beshear asks Trump for expedited disaster declaration • Kentucky Lantern
James Sexton pauses in what's left of his house in the Sunset Hills neighborhood of London, May 18, 2025. A tornado struck the area just after midnight the day before. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)An initial state assessment finds it could cost more than $59 million to clean up more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris from buildings and vegetation damaged by a tornado that tore through Somerset and London last week. That’s according…
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