LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rounds of severe storms swept through the commonwealth May 26, causing structural damage, power loss for thousands and at least one death, said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., issued a State of Emergency shortly after midnight May 27. The National Weather Service in Louisville also said crews are assessing damage in Meade, Hardin, Grayson, Butler and Warren counties, with a survey also possible in Logan County.
One resident in Louisville's Germantown neighborhood said he’s seen things like this before.
"I had a branch that fell off a tree in the alley a couple of weeks ago," resident Don Reibert said.
Reibert said he didn’t lose power, but that was not the case for thousands of others.
According to poweroutage.us, more than 180,000 Kentuckians are without power as of 10 a.m. Louisville Gas & Electric added more than 81,000 customers do not have power, including more than 41,000 in Jefferson County.
"Crews are responding safely and as quickly as possible," said Liz Pratt, LG&E and KU director of internal and external communications. "We have employees and resources who will be working around the clock to help restore customer service as fast as we can."
LG&E and KU added Monday an additional 700 line workers and personnel from surrounding states are joining hundreds of employees to help restore power in a multi-day effort. The utilities are responding to 1,000 downed wires, LG&E and KU added.
In the southern part of the state, the Monticello Fire Department said it responded to multiple incidents dealing with the weather, including responding to two propane smell calls, assisting with clearing roadways and assessing damage.
The most notable response, the department said, was to Conley Bottom Resort, where the department was dispatched for a roof collapse with people unable to get off the docks shortly after 1 a.m. Monday. Personnel searched the docks and campgrounds, assisted with securing utilities and cleared roadways into the dock and campground areas.
The department added only a few minor injuries were sustained and reported to Wayne County Emergency Medical Service for treatment.
Fort Campbell also said in a release trees are down across the installation, and damage assessments are underway.
Organizers canceled the remainder of the Gazebo Festival at Louisville's Waterfront Park due to the conditions. They said Sunday ticket holders will receive a full refund while weekend ticket holders will receive a 50% refund.
The same line of storms that hit Kentucky also killed at least 14 people in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
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