Grayson County did not escape the path of what may have been the most catastrophic tornado to ever strike Kentucky, but the early reports of damage indicate few structures were significantly impacted and no injuries have been reported.
Northwest Grayson County, primarily Falls of Rough and Short Creek, was put under a tornado warning a few minutes after 11:00 Friday night. The tornado, which moved from Arkansas, through Missouri and Tennessee, before entering Kentucky in the Jackson Purchase, continued on the ground as it churned northeast, reaching Grayson County at around 11:40 p.m.
The path of the twister is evident in the Green Farms Road area, as it narrowly missed a direct blow to Green Mansion Bed & Breakfast. A home under construction (and nearly complete) on Sandy Court West, due east of the mansion, was heavily damaged, as were countless trees in and around the area.
At the Grayson/Breckinridge County line, Caneyville Fire Chief Brian Pharris removed 17 trees from the Hwy 110 and Tickridge Road area.
In the 14900 block of Falls of Rough Road, a boat was flipped and other damage sustained near Mercer and Sons Marine. It was difficult to establish exactly what was damaged and how much damage was done because power lines were down and approaching the area was impossible.
Falls of Rough Road was closed near the site of the downed power lines until about 4:00 a.m.
Clearly visible through the heavy rain were metal roofing sheets in the tops of trees in the area east of Green Farms Road, but although Caneyville, Leitchfield and Falls of Rough firefighters were searching the area for damage, it was difficult to determine where the metal sheets originated from.
Pleasant Run Road was under water near its intersection with Lone Hill Road.
In Leitchfield, relatively minor tree damage — except for of a large, uprooted tree in the 300 block of South Clinton Street — appears to have been the extent of the destruction. Leitchfield/Wax firefighter Andrew Whobrey used a chain saw to cut up the bulk of the tree, as LPD Sgt. Keith Harrel helped remove the tree from the road. Leitchfield Public Works Director Wes Shull then retrieved a back hoe and tossed the remainder of the tree out of the roadway.
It is possible that lightning from a severe thunderstorm caused a major house fire in St. Paul at approximately 12:45 Saturday morning. For K105’s story on that catastrophic, click here.
At 7:30 Saturday morning, about 40 Warren RECC customers were without power in Grayson County.
(Headline photo: Heavily damaged under construction home on Sandy Court West, in Falls of Rough)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
