Cleanup efforts underway in Louisville as thousands remain without power after storm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of people are still without power in Kentucky as clean up efforts continue after severe weather moved through the area on Sunday.

At least one person died in Louisville as strong winds and severe weather hit Louisville throughout Sunday.

Todd Ansert, who lives near St. Matthews off Lexington Road and Cannons Lane, dealt with storm damage on Monday.

"The wind was circulating here," Ansert said. "I've lived here about a year and a half, not long enough to have two fall on me in about 14 months."

After a tree fall at his home in March 2023, Ansert got the insurance claim wrapped up a few months ago. But now it's happened again after the storms hit Sunday.

"I had my car on the street and I noticed the wind picking up so I thought I better move my car inside and as soon as I jumped in my car I sat there and watched it fall. Wasn't much I could do."

Down the street, a large limb fell right between two houses, which damaged both roofs and got tangled in a power line. That cut off electricity.

Not far away on Massie Avenue, Michael Kessler doesn't have any trees down.

"That's the one I've always worried about, if a bad southern wind ever comes, that would crash right through our living room," Kessler said, referencing a tree in his yard.

While Kessler didn't have to worry about fallen trees, his home and others on Massie Avenue haven't had power since the first wave of storms early Sunday afternoon.

"We haven't had the power off this long since we've been living here," said Kessler, who has lived at the home since 2014.

Kessler is using a generator to get by.

"You go quite a bit down Westport Road before you see anyone that's got power," Kessler said.

The storms impacted about 120,000 LG&E and KU customers. There's also been reports of nearly 1,000 downed wires.

IMAGES | Strong winds, severe weather moves through Kentuckiana on Sunday

Amy Ware, who lives down the road from Kessler, spent Monday cleaning up her yard after branches fell down.

"It was during the second storm, we had stuff falling all around us," Ware said. "It was crazy, I went out to hide some blackberries and strawberries out back and I was literally getting knocked over. It was 30 minutes of craziness."

LG&E officials said the storm caused a multi-day restoration event. There are about 700 workers and personnel from surrounding states working to restore power after the "hurricane-force winds."

The National Weather Service is out conducting damage surveys Monday to assess damage.

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