One year later: Southeastern Kentucky community remembers fallen victims of EF-4 tornado
(ABC 36 News Now) — Saturday marks one year since a historic, EF-4 tornado blew through southeastern Kentucky, killing 19 individuals and injuring over 100.
The tornado initially touched down in Russell County in the late evening hours of May, 16, 2025., By the time the tornado reached Pulaski County, it had become a devastating EF-4 tornado, packing winds up to 170 miles-per-hour. The deadly storm lasted almost an hour.
The tornado was on the ground for more than 50 miles and reached a maximum with of 1,700 yards wide, almost an entire mile.
According to officials, 817 homes in Laurel County were impacted by the tornado’s damage. 280 of those homes were completely destroyed and 195 of those homes suffered major damage.
In commemoration of the deadly storms, Alan Keck, the mayor of Somerset in Pulaski County released a statement, which can be read below.
“I’ll never forget what happened on this day one year ago. The moments before the first tornado tore through our community and moved on to neighboring counties. The moments in between the storms, as I huddled with first responders from every agency in the county. And the moments after the storms ended, when everyone came together in a manner that I’d never seen before.
Loved ones were lost; homes and business were ravaged. Despite the heartache and destruction, I saw a community rally and leap to help. Fear and anxiety reigned in the early morning hours that day, but those feelings pale in comparison to the gratitude and pride I felt in the days and weeks that followed.
May we continue to be good neighbors to one another, in good times and bad.
-Somerset Mayor Alan Keck
