NWORTMay 19, 2025By the TNW News Staff NEWS SPECIAL 

Kentucky Tornado Disaster: At Least 19 Dead, Dozens Injured as Storms Rip Across the Midwest and South

LONDON, Ky. (TNW) — Residents in Kentucky and Missouri are picking through the ruins of their homes after a devastating outbreak of severe weather swept through the Midwest and South this weekend, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens more.

Kentucky took the brunt of the destruction, with at least 19 confirmed fatalities — the majority in southeastern Laurel County. In London, Kentucky, entire neighborhoods were leveled. Homes were torn apart. Cars were tossed like toys. Families were left homeless.

Jeff Wyatt, a resident of London whose home was obliterated after 17 years, recounted the narrow escape he and his family had. “It happened so fast,” Wyatt said. “If we had stayed in the family room 10 seconds longer, we would have been gone.”

The Wyatts are among many now sifting through debris, salvaging irreplaceable keepsakes like baby blankets and family photos from the wreckage.

Another survivor, Ryan VanNorstran, was house-sitting along Keavy Road when the storm struck. Huddled in a closet with his brother's dogs, VanNorstran felt the walls shake and watched a door from a nearby house crash through a window. “All the windows blew out. My car’s destroyed. But I’m alive,” he said, reflecting on the raw power of the tornado. “I guess in the moment, I realized… it’s either gonna take me or it’s all gonna be all right.”

Governor Beshear: ‘Unacceptable Loss of Life’

On Sunday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the state’s 19th tornado-related death — an adult woman from Russell County — and said three of the ten injured people who were hospitalized remain in critical condition.

“We are thankful for every life that was spared,” Beshear said on X (formerly Twitter). “For those who lost everything, including loved ones — we will be with you every step of the way.” He emphasized efforts to mobilize federal disaster aid and support families with funeral and rebuilding expenses.

Survey teams will be on the ground in Laurel County and other impacted regions starting Monday to assess damage,