LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The governor confirmed five Kentuckians have died as a result of the severe weather that made its way through the Commonwealth Friday.
Gov. Andy Beshear said the Kentuckians killed in the storm include: a 23-year-old man in Edmonson County, a 63-year-old man in Logan County, an 84-year-old man in Bath County, a 68-year-old man in Simpson County and a 41-year-old woman in Fayette County.
"Let's continue to be there for one another as we mourn these losses," Beshear said.
Beshear declared a State of Emergency and urged people to stay inside before the severe weather appeared.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg later declared a State of Emergency Friday. He said this would help emergency services and first responders, and allow Metro Government "to access potentially available funding to assist in recovering from these severe weather events."
"Again, I encourage everyone in our community to exercise extreme caution this evening, and in the coming days – do not drive through standing water, do not approach downed power lines, or do anything that would put the lives of anyone at risk," he said.
Severe weather made its way through Kentuckiana Friday with reports of fallen trees, flooding and strong winds.
LG&E said this is the third most significant event in the last 20 years.
The utility company said there are 1,400 wires down across Jefferson County and 450 crews are out in the community. Plus, crews from other states are coming to Kentucky to help.
Widespread wind damage
In Old Louisville on Oak and Brook Street, a huge tree split in half, fell and blocked the entire road.
The power lines created a tangled web within the tree branches.
The downed tree also nearly damaged multiple cars, but luckily it didn't.
"The Lord loves me because we missed it by an inch," Ayla Espinosa said. "We been running since 2013, baby! We in it for the long haul!"
WHAS11 also visited the Jacobs Neighborhood, where a downed tree damaged several homes.
Belinda Quick's home was sparred the worst of it, but she's glad that her neighbors were unharmed.
"I'm just thankful everybody got out safe," Quick said. "The house can be fixed, lives can't."
Over in southern Indiana, Hoosiers saw high floodwaters and extreme wind Friday as rescue crews had to save drivers that were stuck in the water.
A pole also crushed a car in the GE parking lot in southern Indiana.
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