At least 18 people have died in Kentucky, while more have been reported in Missouri and Virginia.
St. Louis Tornado is a deadly and fatal
At least 30 people have died in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia. It was then reported that the tornado had been torn apart as part of an outbreak of extreme weather.
The Kentucky governor has announced that the state will consider emergency housing options after at least 18 people have been killed in storms and harsh weather.
“We are dealing with the tragic damage and death of severe Saturday morning weather this morning,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Besher wrote in a post on social media site X.
On May 16, Beshear declared a state of emergency due to the weather system moving across the state.
All 18 people killed were adults, ranging from 18 to 74, according to a press release from the Kentucky Governor’s office. Some of the victims’ ages have not been revealed, and only a few have been publicly named. At least five people are suspected of deaths.
Most of the victims lived in Laurel County, but one woman whose age is not disclosed, lived in Pulaski County, 133 miles southeast of Louisville, Kentucky. Laurel County is about 150 miles southeast of Louisville.
A previous report from USA Today found that seven deaths were also reported in Missouri, while two were reported in Virginia.
USA Today has contacted the Kentucky Governor’s office for more information.
After the storm, the power returns to most of Kentucky: see the map
According to Beshear, more than 69,000 people were left without power on May 17th. However, immediately after the storm, the numbers flew over 172,000.
The number had shrunk to 26,517 as of May 18th, according to data from USA Today.
As of 10:30am, as of 10:30am, five states have reported suspensions across five states, including Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Alabama and Arkansas, as of 10:30am, according to USA Today data.
Other states affected by bad weather
The bad weather was not quarantined in Kentucky.
Preliminary reports of tornadoes were also made in the following states:
- Missouri
- Illinois
- Indiana
- New Jersey
Contributors: Janine Santucci, Zac Anderson. USA TODAY
Julia is a trend reporter for USA Today. Connect with her LinkedIn, x, Instagram and TiktokPlease email: @juliamariegz or jgomez @gannett.com.
(This is an developing story and will be updated.)
