In what’s been an unfortunate all-too-frequent occurrence, Governor Andy Beshear made another stop in west Kentucky Monday morning — paying a personal visit to Hopkinsville in an effort to survey the surprising, sudden damage of an EF2 tornado that touched down New Year’s Day.
During a news conference at the Hopkinsville Municipal Center — just two blocks from the heart of the damage — Beshear noted his intent to file for a 60-day extension of the federal disaster declaration in Kentucky, which in the last four weeks has been battered from Fulton County to Pike County with tornadoes, floods and everything in the middle.
With Christian County already managing considerable damage from a December 10 and 11 tornado rushing through Pembroke, Beshear added another declaration has to come from federal authorities — as places like Pike County and Taylor County also received considerable flooding.
More than a football field wide, the National Weather Service out of Paducah stated Sunday the twister was on the ground for one minute, from 9:21 AM until 9:22 AM, and traveled nearly a mile-and-a-half before spinning back up into the sky.
It disappeared just as fast as it arrived, startling not just locals — but the National Weather Service — as the rotation skipped radar pings.
In a conversation with NWS officials during Sunday’s survey, Christian County Emergency Management Director Randy Graham said it was “an anomaly.”
NewsEdge Weather Forecaster David Powell also confirmed the anomaly, stating the tornado was what is called a “front ender,” and touched down between radar scans and lifted back up before radar could detect it. He said this is why there was very little warning before it happened, and unfortunately, weather operators were caught off guard.
Prior to Saturday, the National Weather Service had strong indications throughout the week that severe — and, perhaps, tornadic — activity was possible along the Kentucky-Tennessee state line, particularly between the hours of 11 AM and 5 PM.
But again, this tornado formed prior to that timeline and without a warning from the National Weather Service. Beshear noted the fact there was no loss of life or significant injury was “incredible.”
Graham said the tornado traveled 18 city blocks, impacted 85 residences, 13 businesses and two churches — and also displaced one family, which was relocated by the Red Cross to a hotel in Oak Grove.
More than 1,600 Hopkinsville residents lost power with the Saturday storm, but by Monday morning, Graham added only 20 or so customers of Hopkinsville Electric Systems were without power — most of which will require considerable electrician’s repairs.
Graham said those impacted should first contact their insurance companies before contacting FEMA, and to take “lots of pictures” of the current damage.
As of Monday morning, 10th Street behind the destroyed Marathon gas station and East 13th Street were blocked to traffic — and some debris cleanup could take time to remove.
Hopkinsville Mayor Wendell Lynch asked for motorists in downtown Hopkinsville to take caution in the coming days.
Questions should be directed to Graham’s office by phone at (270) 887-6253.
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