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Tornado warnings issued in South after storm rolls through Kentucky, killing 1

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia on Friday, hours after a harsh storm hit a remote area of central Kentucky, killing one person and injuring at least 14 more, officials said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on social media that one person was killed and at least 14 injured when a “reported tornado” struck Washington County.

Beshear said that three adults and a child were still hospitalized, while 10 others were treated and released.

In an earlier news conference, Washington County Sheriff’s officials also said that the area appeared to have been struck by a tornado.

Washington County Judge-executive Timothy Graves said two or three houses were destroyed and downed trees temporarily blocked roads.

“We were fortunate this was located in a remote part of the county,” Graves said.

Debris and heavy damage are seen from severe weather, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Springfield, Ky.

Michael Swensen / AP


Beshear canceled a visit planned for Friday to Pulaski and Laurel counties, which were hit by a tornado earlier this month. That storm left 19 dead in the state.

“This level of severe weather was unexpected, with a system still moving through the state,” Beshear wrote. “We also expect to see additional storms today with Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky facing a risk of more severe weather. Please be alert this morning and stay safe.”

The National Weather Service’s office in Louisville, Kentucky, said a crew surveying damage Friday in Washington County was following a damage path that may enter neighboring Mercer County. By midday, the crew had found “at least” EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale tornado damage in southwestern Washington County, the office said in a social media post.

Three of the injured people were taken to University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington. County Emergency Management Director Kevin Devine said the county was not expecting harsh weather Friday morning.

In a social media post, the sheriff’s office asked people to stay home to allow emergency workers to do their jobs.

In Tennessee, multiple people were injured when severe weather hit the Philadelphia area of Loudon County, on Friday morning, the county sheriff’s office said in a social media post. The weather service’s office in Morristown later preliminarily confirmed in a social media post that an EF0 tornado struck near the border of Loudon and Monroe counties.

Also on Friday, National Weather Service surveyors said a Thursday afternoon tornado near Atlanta reached top wind speeds estimated at 135 mph, throwing the son of actor Tray Chaney nearly 300 feet from the second-floor window of his home and leaving him with critical injuries.

The storm, rated EF2, damaged about a dozen houses in a subdivision in Locust Grove, about 30 miles southeast of the city. Residents told news outlets they had no advance warning of the twister, which meteorologists said dropped out of a thunderstorm that had showed weak and broad rotation. The tornado was on the ground for 5 minutes, covering 1.8 miles.

Along one street, the tornado ripped off siding and shingles, blowing out windows. Damage was worst at the Chaney home, which was destroyed except for one interior closet on the first floor where clothes were still hanging.

Malachi Chaney, the son, was found in nearby woods and taken to an Atlanta hospital. Tray Chaney, best known for his role on “The Wire,” said his son remained hospitalized in intensive care on Friday, with injuries including broken ribs and fractured bones in his face. Tray Chaney said he suffered a bruise on the head. In a video recorded shortly thereafter, Chaney said he wished he could trade places with his son, who just completed his freshman year at Savannah State University.

“I wish he was the one that was doing the video, and I was still in the ICU,” Tray Chaney said.

It was the third round of tornadoes in northern Georgia this week, with the weather service confirming three weaker twisters northwest of Atlanta on Sunday and three more tornadoes west of the city on Tuesday.

In addition to tornado warnings, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia until Friday night.

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Bear found sitting on stove inside Kentucky home after crashing through ceiling

Watch bear steal bird feeder camera



Black bear films itself running away with stolen bird feeder camera

00:48

A black bear crashed through the ceiling of a home in southeastern Kentucky last week and ended up on top of a stove, state wildlife officials said. 

Photos show the furry intruder perched on top of the stove in the kitchen, where a warden and local sheriff’s deputy discovered the animal before chasing it from the property through an open door. The incident happened at a Bell County residence last Wednesday at around 5 a.m., according to the law enforcement branch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

“After taking a look around, it was determined that the bear had climbed up a ladder outside and squeezed through an opening in the attic,” the department said in a Facebook post. “The bear then fell through the ceiling into the residence below.”

A black bear was found sitting on a stove insider a home in Kentucky, officials said.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement/Facebook


Another photo, taken inside the house, showed a square-shaped hole in the ceiling where the bear apparently burst through as it fell. 

Officials did not estimate the size of the bear or say whether the animal was injured.

Following a gradual population decline in the region, black bears have returned to Kentucky over the last two decades and are inhabiting the state in increasing numbers, according to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, which says the animals are primarily found in eastern areas. 

Wildlife officials also note that black bears are typically elusive and tend to avoid humans unless they have been exposed to sources of human food. That and their curiosity mean seeing bears near places where people live “is relatively common” in parts of Kentucky, the Fish and Wildlife department writes on its website.

“Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are likely being lured by some type of food attractant. These attractants typically include garbage, pet food, and birdfeeders,” the site reads. “The best thing to do is identify the attractant and remove the source. Bears will move on after realizing their is no food to be obtained.”

Emily Mae Czachor

Emily Mae Czachor is a news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social and criminal justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

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FEMA responds to deadly Kentucky tornadoes amid layoffs, looming cuts

As potentially severe storms threaten parts of the Midwest and the South — which comes after a string of tornadoes have already left over two dozen dead — residents will likely have to turn to a weakened Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid recovery.

In London, Kentucky, Michael Carnes clung to his family as they heard the walls crumbling around them when a tornado hit on Friday.

“We ran into the closet under the stairs, which we thought was the safest place, which it was cuz it’s basically the only place it wasn’t damaged at all,” he recalled.

Across the state, authorities said 19 people were killed after a tornado damaged hundreds of homes and tossed vehicles in the air. With multiple other residents hospitalized, the death toll was expected to rise.

Extreme weather has caused widespread destruction in the Bluegrass State. In April, heavy rainfall led to major flooding in what is now Kentucky’s wettest year on record. And so far in 2025, more than 42 tornadoes have been reported. 

A tornado hit London, Kentucky, on Friday, May 16, 2025.

CBS News


Carnes and other survivors are picking up the pieces of what’s left, and they’re going to need a lot of help.

London Police and Laurel County officials have set up sites for residents to pick up supplies and several shelters have been opened. FEMA is also on the ground, officials tell CBS News, but the agency is facing its own challenges after it lost about a third of its staff. About 1,800 employees took the Trump administration’s buyout offer, a top former FEMA official told CBS News. Another 200 or so probationary workers were also fired.

Earlier this month, the head of FEMA was fired after he appeared to publicly break with the Trump administration on whether to eliminate the nation’s disaster relief agency. Cameron Hamilton, FEMA’s acting administrator, departed roughly three weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Last week, CBS News reported on an internal FEMA review that said the disaster relief agency is “not ready” for the hurricane season, which officially begins in June.

Meanwhile, Congress is reviewing the Trump administration’s proposal to slash FEMA’s budget, nixing $646 million in non-disaster grants during the 2026 fiscal year.

President Trump has toyed with the idea of eliminating FEMA and in March signed an executive order directing state and local governments to “play a more active and significant role” in preparing for emergencies. The administration has also justified the proposed cuts to the agency and hiring overhaul as “cutting out wasteful spending and bureaucracy.”

Despite the layoffs and potential cuts, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said leaders at FEMA have vowed to help.

“The people who’ve been harmed are gonna get our very best. We’re gonna fight for them,” Beshear said Saturday. “I have no criticisms of their operations on the ground and that’s coming from a guy who’s had disagreements with this president, but they’ve done a good job when FEMA has come into Kentucky and I’m grateful.”

For now, Carnes and his neighbors say they feel overwhelmed. When asked what is next for him to do, Carnes said he’ll probably file for relief with the Red Cross and FEMA.

“And just try to get as much help as we can to rebuild,” Carnes said, “or move on.”

Nicole Valdes

Nicole Valdes is a correspondent based in Nashville. Valdes was most recently a weather correspondent with FOX Weather. Since joining FOX Weather in 2021, Valdes covered breaking and developing weather-related news for the streaming service. Valdes reported from nearly 40 states, leading network coverage of Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida, as well as countless tornadoes, flood, and wildfires. As a proud bilingual journalist, Valdes put her skills forward to produce and report an in-depth piece on Hurricane Maria’s impact to Puerto Rico. Prior to this role, Valdes worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor in Phoenix, Arizona, where she led the station’s coverage of the 2020 Presidential election. She was also a multimedia journalist for the CBS-affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida. Valdes graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville.



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Destructive storms, tornadoes across Midwest kill at least 21 people. Here’s what to know

Disastrous systems sweeping across the Midwest have left at least 21 dead, including nine people killed after a tornado sparked what authorities called a mass casualty event in southeastern Kentucky.

The storms were part of a weather system Friday that killed seven in Missouri and also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

Kentucky slammed by devastating tornado, mass casualty event

In Kentucky, some 14 people have been killed by severe weather – including a devastating tornado – in Kentucky, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.

“Kentucky, we’re starting today with the tough news that we lost at least 14 of our people to last night’s storms, but sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information. Please pray for all of our affected families,” Beshear said Saturday in a post on social media platform X.

Earlier, authorities in Laurel County said nine people were killed after a tornado touched down in southeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries when a twister tore across Laurel County late Friday, causing structures to crumble and even flipping over a car on I-75.

“The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,” the office of Sheriff John Root said in a statement posted on social media. An emergency shelter was set up at a local high school and donations of food and other necessities were arriving.

“The outpouring from our community has been heartwarming. We are continuing to accept donations,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Spokesperson Gilbert Acciardo said rescuers have “been on the ground all night looking for possible survivors. That’s what we’re continuing to do.”

The tornado, which ripped across the largely rural area and extended to the London Corbin Airport, hit shortly before midnight.

“Lives have been changed forever here tonight. This is a time we come together, and we pray for this community,” London Mayor Randall Weddle told WKYT-TV. “I have never personally witnessed what I’ve witnessed here tonight. There’s a lot of devastation.”

Missouri church, zoo landmarks devastated by tornadoes

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.

“This is truly, truly devastating,” Spencer said, adding that the city was in the process of declaring an emergency and an overnight curfew Friday had been put into place in the neighborhoods with the most damage.

The number of people injured was not immediately known. Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in serious condition and most expected to be discharged by Friday night, according to hospital spokesperson Laura High.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital received 15 patients with two of them expected to remain in the hospital into the weekend, she said

National Weather Service radar indicated a tornado touched down between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. in Clayton, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. The apparent tornado touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games the same year. Five people were killed in St. Louis and 2 in Scott County near Sloanville. Sloanville is north of Sikeston, Missouri State Police confirmed to CBS News.

At Centennial Christian Church, City of St. Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people died.

A large tree blocks a road after a severe storm moved through Friday, May 16, 2025, in St. Louis.

Jeff Roberson / AP


Stacy Clark said his mother-in-law Patricia Penelton died in the church. He described her as a very active church volunteer who had many roles, including being part of the choir.

Jeffrey Simmons Sr., who lives across from the church, heard an alert on his phone and then the lights went out.

“And next thing you know, a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said. He and his brother went into the basement. Later, he realized it was worse than he thought. “Everything was tore up.”

Downed trees and stop lights also caused traffic gridlock during the Friday afternoon commute and officials urged people to stay home.

John Randle, a 19-year-old University of Missouri-St. Louis student, said he and his girlfriend were at the St. Louis Art Museum during the storm and were hustled into the basement with about 150 other people.

“You could see the doors flying open, tree branches flying by and people running,” he said. “A lot of people were caught outside.”

Christy Childs, a Saint Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. Childs said all animals were safe and that there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.

“We can’t definitively say whether or not it was a tornado – it likely was,” National Weather Service meteorologist Marshall Pfahler said.

A tornado struck in Scott County, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of St. Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.

Part of Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, collapsed on Friday, May 16, 2025 when severe storms, including a possible tornado, swept through the city.

Michael Phillis / AP


“Severe thunderstorms producing large to very large hail, damaging gusts and a couple of tornadoes are expected across the southern Plains,” the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said on its website Saturday. The risk was especially high for north Texas.

A tornado touched down near the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Marion in Marion, Illinois, a U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesperson confirmed to CBS News.  Although FCI Marion was not in the tornado’s path, the staff housing was directly hit and sustained significant damage.  

“As a temporary measure, the movement for certain incarcerated individuals has been suspended and accountability procedures are in place,” the spokesperson said. 

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Climate change made recent flooding in Midwest, South more intense, report finds

The deadly storms that tore through eight U.S. states in early April, killing at least 24 people, were made significantly worse by climate change, according to a study released this week. 

Analysis from World Weather Attribution, a climate science group, found that human-caused global warming made the record-breaking downpours about 9% heavier. The powerful storms destroyed homes, roads and farmland. 

From April 3 to April 6, the storms swept across the Midwest and South, dumping record amounts of rain across Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and other states. The study found the four days of rainfall was the heaviest ever recorded for the region. The storm’s intensity was fueled in part by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which were about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than normal due to climate change, the study determined. 

According to the WWA analysis, this made the storms 14 times more likely.

An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding a home on April 7, 2025, in Paducah, Kentucky. Thunderstorms, heavy rains, high winds and tornadoes have plagued the region for the past several days, causing widespread damage before moving east.

Getty Images


The researchers said that while strong forecasts and early warnings likely reduced the scope of the damage, they worry about the impact of ongoing staff shortages at the National Weather Service. 

Many of its field offices are strained, with nearly half of those offices now facing vacancy rates over 20%, and 30 offices operating without a senior meteorologist, according to Fredi Otto, one of the authors of the report, a co-founder of World Weather Attribution, and a senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute in Imperial College London. 

These offices are responsible for issuing real-time warnings and coordinating with emergency management to keep communities safe. 

The strain on insurance markets is also becoming clear as climate change drives more frequent and severe weather. Homeowners in high-risk areas are already seeing their insurance costs rise sharply as companies adjust to the growing risk. 

“We estimate that the top 20% of riskiest zip codes have seen insurance premiums go up by $1,100 on average from 2020 to 2024,” said report co-author Ben Keys, a professor of real estate and finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, on a call with reporters.

Without a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, extreme weather is expected to become even more common and intense, researchers said. 

According to the study, if global warming reaches 2.6 degrees Celsius (4.7 degrees Fahrenheit) — which researchers with World Weather Attribution expected by the year 2100 under current policies — four-day rainfall events like those seen in early April could become another 7% more intense and twice as likely.

“It’s really a moment for us to understand what this means not only now but for the future,” said study co-author Shel Winkley, a weather and climate engagement specialist with nonprofit news group Climate Central, on the call. “What does that mean for these areas that are seeing back-to-back events? What does that mean for how we build, or where we’re rebuilding, or if we rebuild? Is this going to be a place that’s livable in the future? And if it is, how do we make sure that it’s livable and safe?”

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