Another frightening severe weather event, complete with tornados, tentpoled the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Two rounds on Sunday--in the morning and then later that night--dealt blows of varying intensity to western Kentucky and southern Indiana. Sunday night's was easily the worst.

The storm moved northeastward, right along Interstate 69, delivering catastrophic damage to Charleston KY, just north of Dawson Springs.

National Weather Service
National Weather Service
loading...

The EF-3 tornado's path is eerily similar to the deadly twister that ravaged western Kentucky on December 10th, 2021.

National Weather Service
National Weather Service
loading...

As it did in 2021, the Salvation Army immediately sprang into action when the storms came to an end, deploying a response team to Hopkins and Muhlenberg Counties. In a press release, Ken Griffey, Jr--the Madisonville Salvation Army's Corps Officer--said that cleanup kits were distributed to the affected areas as well as snacks, drinks, and, said Griffey, emotional and spiritual support.

But the work of the Salvation Army in the wake of this devastating storm is far from over. Bo Sells is the Emergency Disaster Services Director for the Salvation Army, and he tells us that damage and needs assessments will continue and that the Salvation Army will be coordinating with state and local officials to determine what is the best way to assist in recovery efforts going forward.

If you would like to donate to tornado relief efforts, visit helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769), or you can mail a check to the Salvation Army at PO Box 436437, Louisville KY 40253.

Write "Hopkins/Muhlenberg Tornado May 2024" on the memo line. And thank you.