2022 was another year for Kentucky to batten down the hatches, with a total of 35 tornadoes that caused around $850,000 of property damage.
As the weather becomes more unpredictable, more Kentucky folks are turning to us here at Boggs Law Group for help. Let’s look back at how tornados have devastated Kentucky over the years, how to stay safe, and what you can do if your home has been damaged.
Staying Safe
A tornado is a destructive vortex of violently rotating winds, giving it an appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud. They form in thunderstorms, or they precede them. One in every thousand storms becomes a supercell, and one in five of these supercells triggers a tornado.
Kentucky is prone to an average of 21 tornados per year because it’s part of the Hoosier Alley, which is a tornado alley that sees a higher occurrence of tornados compared to the rest of the country.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises us to take shelter immediately if there’s a tornado warning or if we see signs of a tornado forming. Keep listening to the local radio for updates and move to an underground shelter if you can. At home, have a tornado plan in place and talk it through with your family. Stock up on non-perishable food, flashlights, and medical supplies in advance.
The First Twister of 2023
Recently Kentucky was hit again. During the early hours of January 12, 2023, an EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds hit West Harrodsburg in Mercer County after storms swept through central Kentucky. Two homes were significantly damaged here, and a neighboring barn was destroyed. An EF-1 tornado also touched down in Boyle and Henry counties. The storm cell moved through central Kentucky, south of Louisville, then passed through areas south of Lexington.
Rheana Dean was at home with her son in West Harrodsburg when the tornado hit and had received a warning on her phone. The tornado blew out some bedroom windows and ripped a hole in her roof. Thankfully no one was hurt. “Little shaken up, little scared, still overwhelmed but very grateful,” Dean told Spectrum News 1.
Ben Johnson Elementary school suffered significant damage, especially to its roof. Many other local businesses sustained damage, and the roof of the YMCA was partially peeled back.
A History of Twisters
Kentucky has a deadly history when it comes to tornados. Since 1830, Kentucky tornadoes have killed 417 people and caused over $1 billion in damages.
The 1890 twister hit several communities and transformed into an EF-4 with wind speeds up to 200 mph, killing 76 people. Kentucky’s only EF-5 tornado hit in 1974, touching down in Breckenridge County, and destroying more than 100 homes.
In May 1996, Kentucky saw a small outbreak of tornados occur in Central and Northern Kentucky, leading to over $100 million in damages.
The December 2021 twister that devastated Mayfield is known as the deadliest and longest-tracked tornado in Kentucky’s history. This EF-4 tornado traveled 165.7 miles over 19 counties in just 3 hours, bringing 190 mph winds.
After The Storm
In the aftermath, we see the true devastation here in Kentucky. Insurance payments are critical to bouncing back after a tornado.
But here’s the good news: if you’re a Kentucky homeowner who has a home insurance policy, The Kentucky Unfair Claims Settlement Practice Act means that insurance companies have to hold up their end of the bargain. You don’t have to put up with insurance claim denials, delays, lowball settlement offers, or unfair treatment of any kind.
We advocate and protect policyholders. So, if you’re trying to put the pieces back together after a tornado, and the insurance company won’t play fair, call us.
The dedicated team at Boggs Law Group specializes in fighting for what our clients need to reclaim their lives after a disaster. We’ll be happy to talk you through it all, step by step.