SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (Friday Evening) — A mass casualty incident has been declared in Somerset, Kentucky, after a powerful tornado ripped through the southern part of the city late Monday evening. The storm left a wide swath of destruction in its wake, leveling structures, overturning vehicles, and injuring an unknown number of residents. Emergency crews are still in the early stages of assessing the full extent of the damage.
According to officials, the most significant tornado damage occurred along South Highway 27, a heavily trafficked corridor that runs through the heart of Somerset’s commercial district. The areas near Stoplight 22 and Parkers Mill Road were hit particularly hard. Eyewitnesses reported seeing buildings flattened, utility poles snapped in half, and debris scattered across roadways and parking lots.
Pulaski County emergency management confirmed that search and rescue operations began immediately after the tornado passed, with first responders combing through damaged structures in hopes of finding survivors. Numerous emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire engines, and rescue trucks, converged on the impacted zones within minutes of the storm’s departure. Somerset Police and Fire Departments, along with Pulaski County EMS, have been working in coordination with state emergency services to manage the crisis.
“This is a major emergency,” said Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley during a press briefing late Monday night. “We’ve activated all available resources, and we’re asking the public to stay away from the affected areas to allow first responders to do their jobs. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.”
Local hospitals, including Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, have enacted mass casualty protocols to prepare for an influx of injured patients. Medical staff have been called in from surrounding counties, and additional trauma teams are being dispatched to the area. The Kentucky National Guard has also been notified and may be mobilized to assist with recovery efforts.
Power outages have been reported across large sections of Somerset and southern Pulaski County, with utility companies working through the night to assess and begin repairs. Dozens of downed lines and damaged substations have left thousands without electricity, complicating rescue efforts and increasing hazards for both residents and emergency personnel.
Photos and video shared on social media depict scenes of devastation: a strip mall reduced to rubble, a gas station canopy twisted into metal fragments, and residential homes left without roofs. Residents describe moments of sheer terror as the tornado approached, many of them taking shelter in basements or interior rooms with just minutes to spare.
“I could hear the wind howling like a freight train,” said Jennifer Collins, a local resident who lives near Parkers Mill Road. “It only lasted a couple of minutes, but it felt like forever. When we came out, everything was gone.”
Governor Andy Beshear has been briefed on the situation and expressed his condolences via social media, stating, “We are monitoring the devastating tornado event in Somerset and coordinating with local officials. Kentucky stands ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary.”
The National Weather Service has yet to confirm the tornado’s rating on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, but preliminary observations suggest it may have been a strong EF2 or possibly EF3, based on the extent of the structural damage.
A temporary shelter has been established at the Center for Rural Development to accommodate displaced residents, and donations of food, water, blankets, and clothing are being accepted by local churches and civic organizations.
Residents are being urged to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary and to report any missing persons to local authorities. Drones and personal aircraft have been banned in the affected area to prevent interference with emergency operations.
As dawn approaches, Somerset is facing a long and painful recovery. With damage assessments ongoing and the full human toll yet to be determined, this tornado event is already shaping up to be one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike Pulaski County in recent memory.
Officials expect to release more detailed information in the coming hours as rescue efforts continue and the scope of the disaster becomes clearer.
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