MDS volunteers on the ground after Kentucky tornado

After a mile-wide tornado tore through southern Kentucky on May 16, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers from Ohio are engaged in early response, removing damaged trees and debris in the London and Somerset communities.

MDS Regional Board Chair Rollin Ulrich traveled to the area on May 23 to assess damages. He has been working with the Kentucky Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to ensure early response volunteers have safe places to work and to stay. The volunteers reported that chainsaw work removing trees was currently the focus of the work.

The Western Ohio MDS Unit is also reaching out to respond as more damage assessment become available.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a powerful EF-4 tornado tore through the area, devastating multiple communities.

According to officials, the tornado reached peak winds of 170 miles per hour. At its widest point, the storm stretched nearly one mile across and stayed on the ground for approximately 56 miles.

Damage spans Russell, Pulaski and Laurel counties, and at least 19 people were killed.

The Somerset-London tornado was only the sixth EF-4 or EF-5 tornado in Kentucky in the past 50 years. It was also only the 37th violent tornado in recorded history in Kentucky.

The severe Kentucky tornado was part of a deadly weather outbreak that spawned at least one tornado in 22 states between May 15-21. Among the hardest-hit states were Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.