HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. — Multiple tornadoes have been reported throughout Kentucky since March 18, 2022. The list includes an EF-1 in Hardin and Bullitt County and an EF-0 in Breckinridge County.
The Hardin County tornado began at 10:38 p.m. on Friday night 4 miles southwest of Rineyville and ended at 10:48 p.m., 2 miles southeast of Rineyville. Remnants of the tornado still remained as wind whipped through the county. The EF-1 tornado had 100 mph winds and was 4.12 miles long and 100 yards wide.
No fatalities were reported, but significant damage was done to longtime resident of Hardin County’s home Bryan Covell’s home and his neighbor’s barn.
“The thunderstorm that we knew was out there you know, the sounds changed from just being a normal thunderstorm and all of a sudden it was the sound was just different,” Covell said.
The sound was knocking on Bryan Covell’s front door and busting out others. It was an EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds whipping through a county of nearly 100,000 and throwing pieces of Covell’s house across the street.
“We hopped out of a chair and ran, got the kids and scrambled to the basement as quickly as we could. It was all so fast, by the time that we moved from the chair to their room, to the basement, by the time we got to the basement it was over. It was quiet again,” Covell said.
What was left was a nightmare coming to life for the husband and father of two. His family had only lived in this house for two years.
“We’ll do what we can to fix the house, but I’m just thankful that the wife and kids are healthy and God protected us and I praise him for that,” Covell said.
Right away Covell family’s got to work on Saturday taking assessment of how much supply would be needed for repairs. The first people to come help first were Sign Pros—his family’s business. Covell’s cousin Chris got the news that it was minor damage, but it turned out to be major damage and headed right over.
“But they said hey, do you mind coming over and helping patch the roof up a little bit? And I don’t know if they knew how bad it was at that time. But when I pulled up I was like I don’t think it’s patching. So it’s pretty extensive. It’s overwhelming. But, you know, thank God, everybody was safe. Everything else can be fixed and rebuilt,” Chris Covell said.
Bryan Covell echoes the same message of homes can be replaced but family cannot.
“We’ll work through it and we’ll move on, so we’re just thankful to be alive,” Covell said.
Covell and his family are staying with his father until his home is repaired.
The Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative said there are still hundreds without power as of Saturday afternoon and they’ll continue to work to make sure everyone in the county has their power restored.