Overview

• At least 27 people have been confirmed dead, including 18 in Kentucky, following powerful storms and tornadoes that struck on May 17-18.
• Laurel County, Kentucky, was the hardest hit, with 17 fatalities and hundreds of homes destroyed, leaving many residents homeless.
• Seven people died in Missouri, including five in St. Louis, where over 5,000 homes were damaged, and curfews remain in place in the worst-affected areas.
• Nearly 200,000 customers across Kentucky and Missouri lost power, and emergency declarations have been issued in five Kentucky counties.
• The National Weather Service warns of continuing severe weather risks, including large hail and tornadoes, across the southern Plains in the coming days.