EF-4 Tornado Kills 19 Sweeps Laurel, Pulaski, Russell Counties Kentucky

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a deadly tornado that struck southeastern Kentucky on May 16 was an EF-4, with winds reaching 170 miles per hour and a path nearly one mile wide extending 55.6 miles through Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel counties. This tornado was the deadliest in the Jackson, Kentucky NWS coverage area, resulting in 19 fatalities and multiple injuries, with the majority of deaths occurring in Laurel County. It was the first deadly tornado in Laurel County since 2012 and the first EF-4 tornado in the region since 2021. In response to ongoing severe weather threats, authorities have issued mandatory evacuations in the hardest-hit areas, established curfews, and set up shelters to protect residents from further harm. Security patrols are also in place to prevent looting in affected neighborhoods, and officials are providing housing assistance including travel trailers for displaced residents. The region remains on alert as additional severe storms with tornado potential are forecasted, prompting continued caution and emergency preparedness measures.