LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Multiple Kentuckians are dead after a “mass casualty” line of storms ravaged multiple counties Friday night into early Saturday.

The governor surveyed damage in London before hosting a briefing at 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 17, from Kentucky National Guard JRTC with other state officials.

In an update just after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Gov. Andy Beshear said at least 19 Kentuckians were killed due to the storms that extended overnight.

Beshear said 17 of the victims were from Laurel County, with one woman from Pulaski County and a woman from Russell County:

• Laurel:
  • Man, unknown age
  • Man, unknown age
  • Man, 25
  • Man, 63
  • Man, 71
  • Man, 73
  • Man, 76
  • Woman, 48
  • Woman, 51
  • Woman, 65
  • Woman, 67
  • Woman, 67
  • Woman, 68
  • Woman, 69
  • Woman, 73
  • Woman, 73
  • Woman, 74
• Pulaski
  • Woman, unknown age
• Russell
  • Woman, unknown age

“This number is expected to grow as we receive more information. Please pray for all of our affected families,” the governor wrote.

Beshear posted on X just after 2:45 p.m. on Sunday that 10 Kentuckians were at the University of Kentucky Hospital after being injured due to the storms. Three of them are in critical condition, four are in “fair” condition, and three are reportedly in “good” condition.

Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, the FOX 56 Weather Authority tracked a tornado that had originally touched down in Pulaski County before moving into Laurel County.

The Laurel County Fiscal Court shared on Facebook that the tornado had “pummeled“ several areas, including Sunshine Hills, London-Corbin Airport, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, and the Oaks of London subdivision. Officials continued to search the areas for survivors as of 6 a.m., according to Laurel County Sheriff John Root.

During the briefing, Beshear said officials are awaiting the tornado rating, “though it was rated as a three as it came through Somerset.”

On X, Beshear confirmed that five counties have declared a state of emergency as of 9 a.m. Saturday.

“I want to thank Kentucky Emergency Management, first responders, Kentucky State Police, local officials and Kentuckians across our state for working through the night to keep everyone informed and safe. All of our resources are now focused on rescue efforts. Please pray for the families affected. We will get through this together,” Beshear said.

Trooper Pennington with Kentucky State Police said First Baptist Church in London will serve as a shelter to those impacted by the tornado.

Pennington also said the First Assembly of God Church will serve as a base for people to file missing persons reports following the storm. KSP detectives and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will be present. Missing person details will not start until 9 a.m., per Pennington.

First Baptist Church can be found at 804 W Fifth St. in London, while First Assembly of God is located at 390 Faith Assembly Church Rd. in London.

Sheriff Root said anyone displaced by the storm who needs housing is asked to call 606-521-3119. Housing is being provided courtesy of Praxel.

Beshear said the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is there to help survivors and also to provide relief by covering the funeral expenses of those lost during the disaster.