Kentucky State Senator speaks to KSR about tornado destruction, best ways to help

The damage from Friday night’s tornado and storms is overwhelming; the pictures and videos do not do it justice. This morning’s radio show was live from London, Kentucky to cover the scene and raise awareness for the relief efforts. The work has only just begun — and more storms are on the way tomorrow — but there are some ways you can help right now.

Kentucky state senator Brandon Storm came on the show to discuss how his community is coping with the tragedy, which has claimed at least 19 lives. The tornado is estimated to have traveled 55 miles through Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel Counties late Friday night, leaving a jaw-dropping path of destruction. The National Weather Service said it was at least an EF-3 tornado (136-165 mph wind speeds), but at times, it may have reached EF-4 (166-200 mph).

“It’s a disaster,” Storm said. “It looks like a bomb went off. It really does, you know. It’s unimaginable. Pictures don’t do it justice. When you see a photograph on Facebook or social media, you know, you can kind of see it, but when you come out here, you can actually feel it.”

Storm said they hope to have 10 FEMA teams on the ground today to assess the damage, and volunteers continue to arrive from all parts of the state and country to help. With more storms on the way tomorrow, the priority today will be to cover affected homes with tarps (if you have a home that needs to be tarped or know of one, Storm encouraged you to message him on Facebook). Tarps are one of the most needed donations right now, along with work gloves, plastic totes to put items in, and medical supplies. If you’d like to donate clothing, organizers request that you donate new clothes, as used clothes will have to be washed before use. Different items will be needed in the coming days and weeks, but for now, all eyes are on the skies for tomorrow’s potential system.

The damage is devastating, but Storm is comforted by the way the community has come together and the number of volunteers who have arrived to help out. Former Kentucky basketball star Reed Sheppard was spotted helping out in his hometown of London on Saturday, and Mark Pope brought his daughters to volunteer on Sunday.

“I think it’s brought us all together,” Storm said. “I came home from church yesterday, and when I went to my neighborhood, it looked like a war zone. [Like a bomb] had gone off. Trees everywhere. But you would not believe the people from other parts of the county that I recognize that were there, who were just out there with chainsaws, out there with their crews who are volunteering, just helping their neighbors. And so there are people in this neighborhood we’re looking at right now that I guarantee you two-thirds of those people don’t live there, but they’re here to help those individuals.”

Cameras set up all over this London neighborhood to try and stop looting, which, according to state Senator Brandon Storm has unfortunately been a serious problem pic.twitter.com/uIf94MZLLa

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 19, 2025

Sadly, Storm said that looting has been an issue, to the point that police have set up mobile units with motion-sensitive cameras and spotlights in neighborhoods; however, the good in people continues to outweigh the bad, especially as more stories come to light. One of the victims was a 25-year-old firefighter who was trying to help someone when the tornado picked him up and threw him into a structure, killing him. One couple avoided the same fate thanks to the help of a disabled veteran.

“It’s devastating. [The tornado] hits a house, takes another house, and the roof just totally blows off and goes about three houses down and across the street, all their windows busted out. And this gentleman was a veteran and a disabled veteran, and he ran out after the tornado had passed to go see what the damage was, and he heard somebody yelling or screaming across the road. He goes over there, goes into the home, and he finds a couple who are crushed. Now they’re alive, but they’re crushed, and they’re begging for help. So he actually rescued them.”

Incredible. Listen to the entire conversation around the midway mark of the first hour below. If you’d like to make a monetary donation, consider Governor Beshear’s Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund or call The Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information.