JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) — A week after a powerful EF-3 tornado ripped through Jeffersontown, residents and business owners are still cleaning up the destruction and beginning the long process of recovery.
The tornado brought estimated winds of 145 mph, leaving behind a path of damaged homes, downed fences, torn insulation and debris scattered across neighborhoods and businesses. Some buildings had their roofs ripped off, and insulation was found wrapped around trees and lying in large piles on the ground.
In the Copperfield subdivision and along Beckley Hills Drive, several homes suffered severe damage.
“Thankful to be alive,” said Jeffersontown resident Jason Zavada, who was home when the storm hit.
Zavada said he was trying to sleep when the tornado struck.
“A sonic boom. Windows blew out. And then it was quickly over,” he said.
After the storm passed, Zavada ran outside to check on his neighbors and assess the damage.
“It was like a plane crash. The amount of debris and how it was scattered everywhere. Light posts down across the street,” he said. “Big yellow insulation all over the place.”
City officials said no one was killed or seriously injured when the tornado touched down. Zavada credits that to many families being away on spring break.
“Four houses down where the roof is exposed. They had a partial roof collapse, and it collapsed into a child’s bed, and they were thankfully not in the home,” he said.
One week later, contractors are working to replace windows and repair damaged roofs. Zavada said the storm has brought the community closer together.
“When you’re side by side picking up the debris, picking up people’s homes… people’s items. Helping each other, it really forged a bond for us,” he said.
Zavada said the experience has changed how he views weather warnings.
“Take tornado warnings seriously. I did not, and I almost paid the price,” he said.
The National Weather Service confirmed the EF-3 rating in its initial damage survey with 145 mph winds. The tornado was 350 yards wide and traveled nearly 10 miles from Jeffersontown to Eastwood.
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