Morton’s Gap, KY, Hit Hard by a Tornado Friday Night

On Friday night, a massive tornado tore through multiple Kentucky towns, leaving behind destruction. Governor Andy Beshear reported at least 70 deaths from just the Mayfield area alone. Over 30 tornadoes hit across six states – including one that hit Mortons Gap in Hopkins County where more than 20 cars were scattered around and debris pile-up everywhere was visible from photographs from the scene.

Steve and Ann Moss managed to take shelter in their basement during a devastating tornado, while their home on Barnsley Loop in Morton’s Gap was devastated. This brick house took a direct hit from its estimated wind speed of 125 mph – and even before impact took place they managed to grab their video camera to record just how terrifying things looked on the ground.

This EF2 tornado traveled north from Centertown along KY 85, damaging two well-built houses, losing part of an exterior wall, snapping numerous trees, impacting three barns and sheds – one barn being nearly levelled – before weakening to an EF1 intensity nearing Muhlenberg-McLean county lines.

The tornado then moved through a rural area along KY 96 east of Madisonville and caused severe EF3 damage, including roof loss from a house and exterior walls being torn off, trailer being tossed from its trailer, other farm outbuilding damaged as well as several pole barns with part roof torn off as well as destruction to hay bale shed, hundreds of large trees being snapped or uprooted as it moved along its path.