Eastern Kentucky was hit by multiple rounds of severe weather on May 16 into the early morning hours of May 17, 2025. The first round came through earlier in the day, bringing large hail, strong winds, and heavy rain. Some areas saw hail close to baseball size, and winds were strong enough to damage buildings and tear parts of roofs off in nearby communities like London.

​

There was a break in the storms during the afternoon, but that allowed the atmosphere to build even more energy. By the evening, a second round moved in, and this one was far more dangerous. Supercell storms pushed in from the west, producing tornadoes across multiple states before reaching Kentucky.

​

The tornado that would impact our area first touched down in Russell County, just southeast of Russell Springs. At the start, it was already strong, causing damage to homes and trees as it moved into Pulaski County. As it reached the southern end of Somerset, the storm intensified, hitting neighborhoods and infrastructure, including the Southern Kentucky RECC.

After passing through Somerset, the tornado grew stronger and wider. It reached EF-4 strength, with winds estimated around 170 miles per hour, as it moved toward the Mount Victory area. From there, it continued east through rough, wooded terrain, including parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest. At its largest, the tornado stretched up to 1,700 yards wide, and debris was carried tens of thousands of feet into the air.

​

The storm stayed on the ground as it crossed Interstate 75 and moved through areas south of London, including the airport, before finally lifting southeast of the city. Some of the worst damage happened in the Sunshine Hill community, where entire neighborhoods were heavily impacted.

​

This tornado became the deadliest on record for the National Weather Service office in Jackson. Nineteen lives were lost across Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel counties. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, and entire areas were left without power and basic services. Emergency systems were quickly overwhelmed, and communities were left dealing with immediate loss and disruption.

​

Alongside the tornado, the storm system also brought flooding and additional wind damage. Heavy rainfall earlier in the day led to rising water levels across the region, adding another layer of impact to an already severe situation.

​

​

Our Response: Immediate Action and Day 1

The tornado left widespread damage across the region, and NPN volunteers began activating immediately. Some were already in the affected areas, while others began mobilizing from across Kentucky and into Ohio.

​

One of our trained volunteers lived directly in the impact area. After checking on their own property, they left to assess conditions nearby. Within a block, they encountered a roadway blocked by fallen trees and debris. At that point, they began assisting local law enforcement by directing traffic away from the hazard and helping reroute vehicles safely around the area.

​

By the following morning, it was clear that access and coordination would be major challenges. Roads across the county were still being cleared, and many areas remained difficult to reach. NPN began coordinating with partner agencies and local businesses (Kroger, Walmart, Lowes, & First Christian Church) to gather resources and prepare aid for affected communities.

​

Initial efforts focused on the Green Meadows subdivision, where damage had left residents in immediate need. While emergency crews worked to reopen routes and stabilize the situation, NPN worked to stage and organize supplies so they could be delivered as soon as access allowed.

​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​​​​​

​

​

Day 2

On day two, NPN continued providing aid locally before expanding further into the county. Areas within the Daniel Boone National Forest were heavily impacted, with multiple homes destroyed and others left without power. As utility crews worked to restore downed lines, NPN focused on residents who were still affected but not in the immediate destruction path.

​

Teams delivered food, cleaning supplies, and bottled water to households dealing with outages and limited access to resources. While these residents may not have taken a direct hit from the tornado, they were still dealing with disrupted services and needed support.

​

As routes began to open, NPN moved into the areas that were directly impacted. Volunteers provided immediate aid while also taking time to document needs. Priority was given to essential items first, followed by requests that would help improve morale for those affected.

​

These needs were sent digitally to a local church partner, The Creek, which began assembling care packages for residents. Once the supplies were ready, NPN volunteers returned, loaded the materials, and delivered them directly to those in need.

​

After general volunteers wrapped up for the day, specially trained team members continued operations into the night. Using local knowledge, they checked areas that may have been overlooked or cut off. During this effort, they identified a location with downed power lines where residents had been without power and had not yet been reached.

​

This information was reported back to leadership, who contacted the local Emergency Operations Center. The County Emergency Manager acted quickly, crews were then dispatched to address the issue, helping restore services to that area.

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Continued Operations and Transition

By day three, NPN shifted into continued relief and stabilization efforts. Teams remained active in affected areas, providing additional aid while also conducting status checks with residents. Volunteers took time to speak directly with those impacted, helping them understand what to expect in the coming days, weeks, and months.

​

This included guidance on navigating the recovery process, recognizing insurance fraud, and avoiding unqualified or predatory contractors. Volunteers also shared information about FEMA processes and connected residents with local organizations that would be available to provide ongoing support.

​

As operations continued, NPN expanded further into surrounding areas, identifying additional households that had not yet received assistance. Immediate needs were addressed on-site, ensuring those individuals were not overlooked. At this stage, operations began shifting from rapid response into a more sustained support effort.

​

Day four followed a similar pattern, with continued aid distribution, outreach, and coverage of impacted areas. By day five, as conditions stabilized and local systems regained capacity, NPN began releasing volunteers who had traveled in from outside the area.

​

From there, operations were gradually scaled down. Local agencies and organizations resumed primary responsibility for ongoing recovery, and NPN formally transitioned out of active response, completing the initial relief phase.