5 deaths confirmed from Sunday's severe storms that dropped several tornadoes in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed five people died Sunday after severe storms tore through the state, dropping several tornadoes and leaving tens of thousands of people without power.

A 67-year-old Mercer County woman, a 62-year-old Hardin County woman, a 48-year-old Hopkins County woman, 54-year-old Caldwell County man and a 34-year-old Jefferson County man died Sunday.

The Jefferson County death happened just after noon Sunday, Louisville Metro Police Sgt. Matt Sanders said. Police said the man was hit by a tree in the 10700 block of Hobbs Station Road near Anchorage and was pronounced dead at the scene. LMPD's Homicide Unit is on scene conducting a death investigation, Sanders said.

"Please join me in holding this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, may their memory be a blessing," Greenberg posted on X.

Hardin County EMA Director Joey Scott said the 62-year-old woman who died Sunday suffered cardiac arrest while going down the stairs of her home during the tornado warning in Radcliff.

Beshear said officials know of a few tornadoes that definitively touched down in Kentucky, and the National Weather Service has confirmed two through its surveys Monday. An EF1 tornado with 90 mph winds touched down in eastern Meade and northern Hardin counties, just south of Fort Knox. Another EF1 hit Butler and Warren counties. Beshear said Monday that it was one the ground for at least 40 miles, barely missing the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville and other recently affected communities like Mayfield and Dawson Springs.

📌(Updated 5/27/24 at 200PM) Damage survey crews are assessing damage from the May 26th, 2024 Event.
Information will be updated as survey results are determined.
Survey results in Butler and Meade/Hardin Counties concluded at least an EF1 tornado.#kywx #inwx pic.twitter.com/S4AxKdZEDR
— NWS Louisville (@NWSLouisville) May 27, 2024

"Communities across Kentucky experienced storms that produced strong winds, multiple tornadoes and hail in some places," Beshear said in a news release Monday. "The storm knocked out power for thousands of Kentuckians, temporarily shut down numerous roads and interstates, and caused massive damage to homes and businesses. But like we always see after severe weather events, first responders and everyday Kentuckians rallied to help each other in those toughest moments."

The National Weather Service from Louisville was conducting damage surveys Monday to assess damage. Other possible survey locations include Logan, Simpson, Barren, Cumberland, Clinton and Mercer counties.

"Crews mobilized yesterday and worked through the day and overnight to help clear roads of trees on state-maintained routes and to support first responder and utility restoration efforts," Kentucky Secretary of Transportation Jim Gray said in a news release Monday. "Clearing roadways could take time, especially if it requires clearing downed power lines first. Our Team Kentucky crews are dedicated to keeping travelers safe. Please watch out for them on the roads, drive alert and slow down."

As of 8:30 p.m. Monday, more than 23,900 customers in Jefferson County were without power. Meade County RECC said that as of 10 a.m. Monday, there were 4,100 outages across its system, mostly concentrated in Meade and Breckinridge counties.

In total, 14 Kentucky counties declared as state of emergency in the aftermath of the storms to expedite aid where it's needed most:

Bullitt
Caldwell
Clay
Clinton
Hopkins
Knox
Logan
Lyon
Marshall
McLean
Muhlenberg
Simpson
Todd
Trigg

LG&E officials said late Sunday that storms throughout the day and night caused a multi-day restoration event. Liz Pratt, a spokesperson for LG&E and KU, said Monday morning that about 700 workers and personnel from surrounding states joined forces to work on restoring power in the area after the "hurricane-force winds."

The storms impacted about 120,000 LG&E and KU customers. There's also been reports of more than 1,000 downed wires. LG&E serves 1,028,732 customers in the state.

"We understand what a power outage does and we understand how this is affecting you and your families and our businesses," Pratt said Monday morning as crews assembled at the Kentucky Exposition Center. "We appreciate our customers' patience and we will be working safely and as quickly as possible to get power restored."

Part of the work to restore power and clean up debris will require the Louisville Metro Police Department to close Interstate 265 in both directions between Dixie Highway and Stonestreet Road. The lanes will be closed at 2 p.m. Monday, and LMPD said there is no scheduled time for when they'll reopen.