‘It’s a War Zone’: Communities Begin Recovery After Deadly Kentucky Tornadoes

Southern Kentucky communities are grappling with heartbreak and destruction after violent tornadoes ripped through the region, killing at least 19 people and leveling entire neighborhoods.

Seventeen of the confirmed fatalities occurred in Laurel County, with additional deaths reported in Pulaski and Russell counties. Among the victims was Major Roger Leslie Leatherman, a firefighter who lost his life while responding to the emergency.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, as local officials and emergency teams assess the widespread damage and support survivors who have lost everything.

“It’s a war zone,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The aftermath reveals scenes of chaos and devastation—homes reduced to splinters, vehicles overturned, and entire neighborhoods turned to rubble.

Craig Singleton, a resident of London, Kentucky, survived the tornado by sheltering in a neighbor’s basement. “What’s most surprising is just the amount of destruction,” he said. “When we came out, most of our house was gone.”