Severe storms tore through the US states of Missouri and Kentucky on Friday night, leaving at least 21 people dead and communities in ruins. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 14 deaths in his state, while local authorities in Missouri reported seven fatalities. Nearly 200,000 people were left without electricity, and officials warned that further extreme weather could follow on Sunday and Monday.
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In London, Kentucky, residents were left reeling from the damage. Jamie Burns, 38, described how she and her family sought shelter in her sister’s brick home as their trailer and dozens of others were destroyed. “Things that have been here for more than 30 years are just flat,” she said. Drone footage showed entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, with trees stripped bare and homes levelled. Over 100,000 people lost power in Kentucky alone, and several counties declared a state of emergency.
Missouri also experienced widespread destruction. Five people were killed in the city of St. Louis, which officials described as suffering “one of the worst storms” in its history. Two more deaths occurred in Scott County. Around 80,000 people lost electricity, and shelters were opened to support displaced residents. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer stated that 5,000 buildings were damaged and 38 people injured, while a local church was severely hit. “Our hearts are broken,” said Pastor Derrick Perkins.
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The storms have reignited concerns about the state of US weather forecasting services. Despite advanced warnings and early emergency declarations, the scale of the destruction has raised questions about whether staff cuts under the Trump administration have undermined the National Weather Service’s ability to operate effectively. According to the Washington Post, around 500 of its 4,200 employees have left this year. The United States recorded nearly 1,800 tornadoes in 2023, the second-highest number on record after 2004.
