Tornadoes miss Cumberland County, striking Laurel and Pulaski
County road workers battled to clean up the multiple trees fallen on old Ky-61 Loop Rd from late Friday evening into the small hours of Saturday morning.
One supercell reportedly spawned a number of tornadoes starting in St. Louis, Missouri and ending in South Central Kentucky
By Greg Wells
CCN–Editor
It was a deadly night last Friday in Kentucky, but thankfully not here in Cumberland County.
County Judge-Executive Luke King said, “We were all out until about 3am.”
King said he was back on the phone at 6:30 that same morning with County Coroner Gary White, before White left to assist the other coroners that were being called to Laurel County to deal with the emergency there.
The tornado that struck London, in Laurel County, killed 17 people, and they were still searching the wreckage Sunday.
As of Sunday, one person was listed as killed by another tornado in Somerset, Pulaski County, but at least 10 people were listed in critical condition across the state due to the storm.
Information is mixed as of Monday, with either 23 or 24 people across Kentucky reported as killed in the May 16 storm.
This was just one of the many piles of limbs cut up and stacked out of the way by City and County workers.
Locally, power was knocked out in some areas due to either limbs or entire trees, downing lines. Numerous trees and limbs were reported downed, blocking roads or hitting lines in both the city and the county.
“We sent another (cleanup) group out Saturday morning around 7:30am and finished that day about 7pm,” the Judge said. “We had trees down in all four districts and in town.”
Burkesville Mayor Laurel Irby said, “The weather, as fierce as it has been in 2025, has also spotlighted the best in us—neighbors helping neighbors, public servants working tirelessly to ensure our safety and quick recovery. Our sincere gratitude goes out to the utility workers, emergency responders, city, county, and state crews, volunteers, and neighbors who have stepped forward during these times. They have not only responded to our community but have answered the call for our fellow Kentuckians who have not been as fortunate and have volunteered to help wherever they are needed. If you are still in need of assistance, or have any weather-related concerns, please reach out to us at City Hall.”
Another storm system has spawned tornadoes in Oklahoma Monday, and that same system is headed to this area Tuesday. It is hoped there will be nothing to report on that system in next week’s edition.
