Neighbors in London, Kentucky are beginning the long road to recovery after their community was reduced to rubble in a tornado. The EF-4 tornado tore through an area near the London-Corbin Airport, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

A violent storm system that included at least one unconfirmed tornado ripped across Kentucky, destroying homes, businesses and at least one church. 18 are confirmed dead as of Saturday afternoon.

Meteorologists with the NWS Paducah office have also confirmed several tornadoes in its region the afternoon and evening of May 16. Three tornadoes impacted western Kentucky, including an EF-3 tornado in Morganfield with winds of 155 mph, an EF-2 tornado in Allegre and an EF-2 tornado in Casky.

Hearts are heavy across Kentucky in the wake of deadly tornadoes that slammed the state last week, but despite that, first responders and volunteers, some of whom are high school students, continue recovery efforts to rebuild communities that were leveled by the storms.

Barbourville Road was down to one lane in front of Slate Hill Baptist Church just outside of London, Ky. in Laurel County Sunday, May 18, 2025 as utility workers made repairs from down lines on the road. Two days earlier, thunderstorms and a deadly tornado ripped through the Southern Kentucky community destroying many homes.

Additionally, there was no evidence that tornado sirens in the area had been deactivated by the Trump administration's budget cuts — if there was, the people affected by the storm certainly would have noted that fact in interviews.

The National Weather Service has finished its survey of the deadly tornado that ripped through southeastern Kentucky last week.

CHI St. Joseph London saw a quick surge of people needing help in the moments after the tornado touched down in Laurel County.

Despite nearly everything but them being taken away in the storms, the former pastor says his unique sense of optimism is what keeps him going.

They were the kindest, nicest people you could have ever met in your entire life,” a longtime friend told the Herald-Leader.

Justin Hawk Smith has over 26,000 subscribers on YouTube; his usual content focuses on fixing trucks and reviewing products. But, after seeing the tornado destruction in his hometown of London, he’s switching gears.