MILTON, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday, as National Weather Service officials surveyed damage in the small town of Milton, Ky. that was hit by an EF-2 tornado that damaged homes, toppled trees, and caused widespread power outages. 

Residents like Jessie Perez on Kentucky Highway 36 were picking up the pieces from the EF-2 tornado that left behind a path of destruction. 

"We got in the closet and the next thing we know, it was just like somebody was coming in and tearing the house apart," Perez said, describing the storm coming through Thursday afternoon. "And we sat and we waited and everything just kind of went silent and we come out and this is what we had left."

Perez, a Trimble County native, said she has lived in the home for several years and while she is thankful to be alive, she's now faced with the task of getting her damaged home repaired. 

"Start over. That's all we can do is start over," she said.

A large tree fell through Perez's roof, crashing into her kitchen while she was hiding in the bedroom closet.

"It was 3 inches from our head, The tree was, that come in," she said.

WDRB crews arrived in Milton shortly before noon Friday to find damaged buildings, including one that had most of its roof peeled off, exposing insulation and wood. 

Down the road from Perez's home, a family from Indianapolis learned their camper on the river in Milton had flipped over. 

"It's just a shock but when it happens to you, you're just going, 'thank God no one was hurt,'" said Rosalie Lowe, pointing to her son's camper, which is she said will be a complete loss.

Local emergency management said 50 to 100 homes had some type of damage, ranging from siding issues to structural losses. The National Weather Service surveyed and assessed damage in town and also crossed the river into Jefferson County, Indiana, stopping around Sandy Beach Campground where trees were splintered and at least one barn was flattened.

"... Trees falling on houses, cars flipped. I hate this stuff. I really do," said John Gordon, with the National Weather Service. 

In addition to declaring the state of emergency, Beshear also activated Kentucky's price gouging laws to protect people from overpriced goods and services as they clean up and recover from the storms, according to a news release. 

The powerful storm knocked out electricity for most in Milton. Households that still have power and water are asked to conserve until systems can be brought back online for everyone. 

Residents can pick up bottled water at Milton Fire Station No. 1 located at 11556 US-421.

Road closures

According to a post on the Trimble County Emergency Management Facebook page, Highway 36 will remain closed to all traffic except residents and emergency responders. A news release from Kentucky State Police early Friday afternoon stated that the highway is expected to remain closed for approximately three days, although that timetable could change. 

US 421 and US 42 remain open, according to the release, and traffic is being diverted to those roads. Drivers who need to travel to Madison, Ind. will be diverted onto US 42 toward Bedford. Drivers can then take US 421 from Bedford to Madison. 

Power outages

Power was still out for many residents Friday, but officials said repairs are being made to transmission lines that could be complete by Friday afternoon. Officials said they hope to have distribution lines back up and running by Friday evening.

If anyone in the area has medical or other immediate needs, please contact Fire and Rescue president Emily McQueary at 502-663-1693. 

Share images and video with WDRB

We'd like to see your pictures and videos taken during and after the storm. If you any to share please email them to webteam@wdrb.com or post them our our Facebook pages. 

More Tornado Coverage: 

• Tornado and hail leave extensive damage in multiple Kentucky, Indiana counties
• 'I feel real lucky' | Kentucky, Indiana residents picking up the pieces after being hit by tornado, hail
• Officials in Milton, Ky. release updates on road closures, power outages after tornado touchdown
• Cleanup efforts begin after tornado hits Milton, Kentucky, area
• 83-year-old man from Milton, Kentucky recalls moments before tornado hit
• Jude Redfield explains tornadoes and wind damages on WDRB Mornings
• Footage of tornado in Madison, Indiana

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