HENRY COUNTY, Ky. — Once the storms settle, damage is left in its wake.
Tuesday's storms left damage in 20 counties across Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed Wednesday that one person died in Campbell County after a car crash caused by the first round of weather.
Right now, John Gordon with the National Weather Service believes the strongest tornado with some of the worst damage is in Henry County, where about 20 people rushed to take cover in a Valero gas station basement, including Valero employee Lisa Gaines.
"I saw the winds and this tree blowing sideways and that's when I knew it was bad so I went to the basement," Gaines said. "It was scary. I was worried about people. There's a business back here that we lost and barns and homes."
Thankfully, Gaines was able to shelter herself and almost two dozen others from the confirmed EF-1 tornado that ripped through New Castle.
About a hundred yards away, a business and a homeowner's garage were in the path of the tornado's destruction.
Steve, who owns the piece of property that was along the tornado's path, said his garage was built in 1974. A garage that now has a caved in roof, tools flown about, and a truck and trailer still inside the sunken building. One of his sheds was destroyed, with pieces of the walls and roof strewn about his lawn along with ripped apart pine trees.
He told WHAS11 that "God was looking out," as he and his wife were safe and unharmed.
About 30 miles away in Prospect, Kentucky, Beshear surveyed the damage of another EF-1 tornado.
"These storms and these tornadoes hit all parts of Kentucky," Beshear said. "It was a true destructive weather system that has caused significant damage across the commonwealth."
The governor thanked the first responders who worked through the night, energy companies getting power back on, and the kindness of Kentuckians.
"People helping people, they have pulled up in each other's driveways, trying to get the tarp over the roof, before that hailstorm...welcome people into their home, making sure that people have a hot meal, offer kind words and a hug," he said.
Beshear also addressed the mental toll extreme weather systems can have on people.
“Natural disasters also cause mental health issues," he said. "This is really traumatic if you’ve been through it; if you’ve lost your home, if you’re backyard looks like something that we’ve seen, if you had to sit there praying while a tornado came through. We're blessed that you’re here but we understand mental health is real and so please reach out if you need that help.”
The 988 crisis hotline is available 24/7.
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