Beshear declares state of emergency, provides update on tornado damage

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday after severe overnight storms swept across the Commonwealth.

The storms resulted in a tornado, heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds, according to a release by the governor’s office.

“We have significant damage to a number of structures, especially in Milton, in Trimble County. Though, thankfully, every report we have received, up until now, indicates there have been no fatalities and only a couple of minor injuries – and that is the most important thing,” Beshear said. “I am going to be on the ground tomorrow morning in Milton to see the damage myself. My promise is that we are going to work with everybody to do the very best to support them during this difficult time.”

Currently, the governor says 33 people are sheltering at General Butler State Resort Park. Beshear released a video Thursday evening providing an update to the public:

“We are going to work and do every thing we can to help those that are impacted. We think over 100 structures are potentially damaged. That means there are a lot of our fellow Kentuckians, who once the shock and the trauma starts to wear off, are going to look at their property they’ve worked so hard on and wonder where to go from here. That means it’s our job to wrap our arms around them, to help in every way we can.”

So far, there have been emergency declarations from Carroll, Gallatin and Trimble counties, the governor’s office says.

Thousands are also without power, and crews are working around the clock to restore electricity.

You can view the full state of emergency here.