Tornadoes Devastate US Midwest, South; 27 Killed, Homes Flattened
At least 27 people, including a veteran firefighter and children, were killed as powerful storms and tornadoes ripped through parts of the US Midwest and South, leaving destruction and grief in their wake.
The deadly storm system claimed 18 lives in Kentucky alone, with 17 of them in Laurel County. A veteran firefighter from Pulaski County, Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman, lost his life while responding to the crisis. Another nine fatalities were reported from Missouri and Virginia.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the toll, warning that the number could rise. “We need the whole world right now to be really good neighbours to this region,” he appealed during a press briefing.
More than a dozen roads were shut down, and hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed. Ten people are in critical condition, and emergency crews continue to comb through debris in search of survivors.
Residents described terrifying moments as tornadoes tore through their communities. Kayla Patterson of London, Kentucky, recounted sheltering in a basement tub with her husband and five children. “You could literally hear just things ripping in the distance, glass shattering… it was terrible,” she said.
Chris Cromer, another resident, shared how he and his wife sought shelter in a crawlspace. “It makes you be thankful to be alive,” he said, noting that while his home was damaged, many others were destroyed.
Emergency shelters have been set up, and aid efforts are underway across the worst-hit counties.
In Missouri, five people died and 38 were injured. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed over 5,000 homes were impacted. A tornado likely touched down near Forest Park, damaging the roof of the St. Louis Zoo’s butterfly facility. The zoo safely relocated most of the butterflies to a conservatory.
Two more deaths occurred in Scott County, Missouri, where homes were leveled. In northern Virginia, two people were reported dead due to the storm.
The National Weather Service warned of continuing storms across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and parts of the central Plains. Hail up to 3.5 inches, destructive winds, and new tornadoes remain a threat.
Concerns have also been raised over the understaffing of key weather service offices. As of March 2025, Kentucky’s Jackson and Louisville offices had vacancy rates of 25% and 29% respectively—well above the 20% level experts deem critical.
Meteorologists fear these gaps could impair timely disaster warnings in future events.
