Violent tornado claims most lives in London, Kentucky area | A look at the destruction
Updated: 8:29 PM EDT May 17, 2025
THAT HAPPEN IN THE METRO. BUT LET’S GET RIGHT TO OUR SHAQUILLE LORD WHO SPENT THE DAY IN LONDON, KENTUCKY AND SHAQ. THAT AREA REALLY SEEMS TO BE GROUND ZERO. YEAH, THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT, RICK. I’M OFF OF OLD WHITLEY ROAD AND I’M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO PUT INTO WORDS THE DESTRUCTION THAT WE’VE BEEN SEEING HERE. YOU ARE SEEING PILES OF DEBRIS, PILES OF PEOPLE’S HOMES. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TOYS. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT CLOTHES. ALL IN DIFFERENT PILES, BECAUSE THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I SPOKE WITH ONE WOMAN ABOUT 20, 30 MINUTES AGO. SHE TOLD ME SHE TOOK HER KIDS INTO A CAR AND THEN DROVE OFF A BLOCK AS THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN, SHE SIMPLY SAID, SHAQ, I DON’T KNOW IF MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS MADE IT. THERE’S STILL A NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNACCOUNTED FOR AS YOU’RE SEEING THIS CLEANUP PROCESS BEING COMPLETED NOW. WE SPOKE TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR. HE SAID HE’S DEALT WITH AROUND 14 NATURAL DISASTERS. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ONE RIGHT NOW. 18 CONFIRMED DEATHS, 17 HERE IN LAUREL COUNTY. AS YOU ALL JUST MENTIONED. BUT WE’RE TOLD THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE. NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE DEATH TOLL, AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE WERE TOLD ARE STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. ALL EFFORTS RIGHT NOW ON THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. AGAIN, WE CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. THERE IS STILL A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR, HUNDREDS OF HOMES DAMAGED, SOME EVEN LEVELED LAST NIGHT AS THIS DESTRUCTION TOOK PLACE. WE JUST FINISHED A TOUR. IT’S HARD TO SEE HOMES THAT ARE IN A SINGLE WALL LEFT STANDING. SOME HOMES THAT HAVE ALL FOUR WALLS YET LOST THE PERSON INSIDE. YOU CAN NOT ONLY SEE THE DESTRUCTION, BUT FEEL IT, BUT IT. ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PLOTS YOU SEE TEN, 11 OR 12 PEOPLE HELPING OUT. AND RIGHT NOW YOU’RE SEEING A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HERE GIVING BACK THEIR TIME TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. AND THEY’RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF HELP OVER THESE NEXT COMING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS. NOW, ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE’S BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, FEMA, FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED ON GETTING FUNDS. SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ALSO SAID STATE LAWMAKERS WILL BE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS AS WELL. NOW, ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION, THE GOVERNOR TOUCHED ON THIS, AS WELL AS THE LAUREL COUNTY SHERIFF LOOTING. THERE WILL BE A POLICE PRESENCE IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HIT HARD TO PREVENT CRIMINALS FROM TRYING TO PREY ON PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME, MAYBE OF THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. FOR RIGHT NOW. REPORTING LIVE. I’M SHAQUILLE LORD RICK WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. SHAQ SO SAD TO SEE ALL THAT DAMAGE. AND ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT DEVASTATION IN LONDON, KENTUCKY. WLKY NEWS CHOPPER FLEW OVER THE DESTRUCTION AT THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT. SEVERAL VINTAGE PLANES CAN BE SEEN UPENDED, FLIPPED AND EVEN SMASHED. THE LOCAL MEDICAL HELICOPTER WAS ALSO DESTROYED. MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE LEFT SCATTERED ACROSS THE FIELD, AND HANGARS AND OTHER BUILDINGS WERE LEVELED. OFFICIALS TOLD WLKY THAT AT LEAST ONE PLANE GOT SUCKED UP INTO THE FUNNEL CLOUD, AND WHEN THAT TORNADO BEGAN ITS PATH OF DESTRUCTION IN LAUREL COUNTY, PEOPLE LIVING THERE HAD TO TAKE SHELTER QUICKLY. SAM CARTER MET ONE FAMILY. NOW, FACED WITH THE TASK OF REBUILDING. THE HOUSE. OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER IS THE WATCH HOUSE, DESTROYED BY A TORNADO DURING LAST NIGHT’S STORMS. THANKFULLY, THEY MADE IT OUT ALIVE, BUT NOW THEY AND SO MANY OTHERS IN LAUREL COUNTY ARE PICKING UP THE PIECES. LATE FRIDAY NIGHT, MIHAELA WATTS WAS IN THE HOME SHE SHARES WITH HER MOTHER AND FATHER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRIO HAD TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES FROM AN ONCOMING STORM. I GRABBED MY DOG AND WE GOT IN OUR BATHROOM THAT’S RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE, AND IMMEDIATELY, LIKE, WE STARTED TO HEAR IT AND WE GOT DOWN ON OUR HANDS AND KNEES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST RUSHED OVER TOP OF US, BREATHING IN ALL THE DEBRIS. THE WATTS FAMILY EVENTUALLY MADE IT OUT OF THAT BATHROOM, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE HOUSE IN UTTER RUIN. THE POWER OF THE STORM. NOT ONLY LEVELING THE HOME, BUT LEAVING BEHIND IT A PATH OF DESTRUCTION. THAT’S MY CAR. IT WAS. YEAH, IT WAS UNDER A CARPORT. CARPORTS GONE. MY DAD’S TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY OVER THERE IN THE YARD. IT COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE FOR MIHAELA AND HER MOTHER AND FATHER. AS FOR WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE WATTS FAMILY, I HAVE NO IDEA. RIGHT NOW. LIKE WE GOT A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT, BUT, I MEAN, WE DIDN’T SLEEP. MY DOG IS JUST HANGING OUT THERE, AND WE’RE JUST KIND OF SORTING THROUGH OUR STUFF. I HAVE NO IDEA. THE HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE ONLY THING LEFT TO DO. NOW PICK UP THE PIECES. A PROCESS THAT COULD TAKE MONTHS, MAYBE EVE
Violent tornado claims most lives in London, Kentucky area | A look at the destruction
Updated: 8:29 PM EDT May 17, 2025
Laurel County took the biggest hit in Kentucky from a violent tornado that spanned several cities on Friday. Of Kentucky’s reported 18 deaths (as of Saturday night), 17 of those were in the London, Kentucky area. That number is expected to increase.A long-track tornado stayed on the ground for miles, taking direct aim at the Sunshine Hills subdivision. Several homes there are completely destroyed and as of Saturday, a number of people there are unaccounted for.Another striking scene was at the London-Corbin airport, where hangars were leveled, vintage planes and a medical helicopter were destroyed, and we’re told at least one plane was actually sucked up into a tornado’s funnel.The people living in Laurel County had to take shelter quickly.First responders said they’ve taken 4,000 calls for service.First Baptist Church in London has opened its doors to help those impacted, acting as a shelter and cooling center. It’s also offering first aid and food.If you’re missing a loved one and you’re able to travel to go ask about them, go to 390 Faith Assembly Church Road in London. If you’re unable to travel, call the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross and select option 4.
LONDON, Ky. —
Laurel County took the biggest hit in Kentucky from a violent tornado that spanned several cities on Friday.
Of Kentucky’s reported 18 deaths (as of Saturday night), 17 of those were in the London, Kentucky area. That number is expected to increase.
A long-track tornado stayed on the ground for miles, taking direct aim at the Sunshine Hills subdivision.
Several homes there are completely destroyed and as of Saturday, a number of people there are unaccounted for.
Another striking scene was at the London-Corbin airport, where hangars were leveled, vintage planes and a medical helicopter were destroyed, and we’re told at least one plane was actually sucked up into a tornado’s funnel.
The people living in Laurel County had to take shelter quickly.
First responders said they’ve taken 4,000 calls for service.
First Baptist Church in London has opened its doors to help those impacted, acting as a shelter and cooling center. It’s also offering first aid and food.
If you’re missing a loved one and you’re able to travel to go ask about them, go to 390 Faith Assembly Church Road in London.
If you’re unable to travel, call the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross and select option 4.