At least 27 dead as storms batter states from the Heartland to the East Coast

 

At least 27 dead as storms batter states from the Heartland to the East Coastl

Over 400,000 customers are without power from Michigan to Tennessee.

Severe weather outbreak from the Heartland to the East CoastViolent storms with deadly tornados broke out in the Midwest killing at least 

At least 27 people were reported dead across several states in an expansive outbreak of severe weather from the Heartland to the East Coast -- with more potentially powerful storms in the forecast for Saturday.

State officials reported 18 people were killed in Kentucky, seven people were killed in Missouri and two in Virginia.

Most of the deaths in Kentucky occurred in Laurel County in the southeastern part of the state, about 130 miles southeast of Louisville.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear toured the damage in his state Saturday, telling reporters during a news conference afterward, "You can not only see the destruction, you can feel it."

Beshear, who declared a state of emergency ahead of the storms, said he's been governor for at least 13 federally declared disasters related to weather and this storm was one of the worst in terms of loss of life and damage.

The ages of those killed in the storms ranged from 25 to 76, with at least 12 of the deaths being people in their 60s and 70s, according to information released by state officials.

One of the people who died was identified as Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman of the Laurel County Fire Department, who had been in public service for 39 years and "died doing what first responders do every day, risking his life for our safety," Beshear said.

Residents sift through wreckage

Some neighborhoods in London, the Laurel County seat, saw total devastation -- homes blown away in the middle of the night, with residents huddling in hallways and basements. On Saturday, with whole blocks of homes gone, residents were left to sift through what remained of their homes.

In this photo released by London, Ky., Mayor Randall Weddle, a path of destruction is shown from a tornado that swept through the area on May 16, 2025.

Mayor Randall Weddle/Facebook

Lonnie Nantz, 78, said he was in bed with his wife when his daughters yelled that a tornado was coming. They held onto each other in their hallway as the home crumbled around them. Pieces of his home were scattered all over his yard and his vehicles were destroyed by debris.

Destruction is shown after a tornado ripped through London, Kentucky, on May 16, 2025.

Dillon Gaudet/WTVQ

Down the street, Kyndra Foster was with 13 family members in their basement. She said she believed they were going to die. The youngest child with her was just 4 months old. Her 8-year-old daughter was left with bruises on her face, and didn't think she was going to make it through. Foster was in a wheelchair Saturday with a broken foot after being hit by a flying piece of debris.

Destruction is shown after a tornado ripped through London, Kentucky, on May 16, 2025.

Dillon Gaudet/WTVQ