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Confirmed tornado damages four homes
  
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Representatives of the National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in east Simpson County and entered west Allen County Tuesday, Jan. 17, causing widespread damage to homes, barns, vehicles, electric poles and trees.
National Weather Service officials from the Louisville and Nashville offices surveyed the damage Wednesday and said the tornado was likely a E-F2 on the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity with winds ranging from 113 to 157 miles per hour. The tornado cut a nine-mile long, 150-foot wide path through the two counties, the weather service officials estimated. They said wind speeds likely reached 120 mph.
Most of the major damage was concentrated in the general area around Ky. 100 east in Simpson County near the Allen County line, according to Simpson County Emergency Management Director Bob Palmer.
According to the Fujita Scale, a E-F2 is a “significant tornado” that typically causes considerable damage, including roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; and large trees snapped or uprooted.
The storm, which hit between noon and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, came with little or no warning. Severe storms were in the extended forecast for southern states as a cold front swooped down from the north. The temperature is downtown Franklin reached 67 degrees before the front came through.
Palmer said a tornado warning from the National Weather Service was issued at 12:16 p.m. – about the time witnesses said the tornado hit. Palmer said several people who lived in the area commented on how quick the storm developed.
The Weather Service had sent out a special notice around noon that strong thunderstorms were moving through the area and were capable of producing tornadoes. The same storm spawned three tornadoes that were confirmed in and around Louisville and nine in all in three states (Indiana and Mississippi) by the National Weather Service.
Most of the damage in southcentral Kentucky was reported in the area along Scottsville Road and McKendree Chapel Road between Hickory Flat and the Allen County line in Simpson County.
Palmer said 20 structures were damaged or destroyed. He said two homes and a double-wide trailer received major structure damage, while four or five other homes suffered minor damage, such as roofs missing. He said five or six barns and outbuildings were destroyed while as many were damaged. A camper was destroyed, and the former Barnes School building was also damaged.
The destroyed homes included one on McKendree Chapel Road and two on Scottsville Road near the Allen County line, including a double-wide mobile home. The James Brown family reportedly lived in the destroyed home on McKendree Chapel Road, while Mickey and Melissa Gregory lived in a home on Scottsville Road that was destroyed. The destroyed double-wide trailer on Scottsville Road was being rented by the Dale and Jessica Forshee family and owned by Jimmy and Vickie Law.
Ms. Forshee narrowly missed being home when the storm destroyed her residence.
“I left to buy hamburger meat for supper four minutes before,” Ms. Forshee said.
She said her husband witnessed the storm from the cab of his semi truck.
Ms. Forshee said the double-wide trailer was moved off its foundation, and a tree fell in the living room area.
“It's terrible,” she said.
Numerous trees were uprooted and utility poles were downed resulting in scattered electrical outages in the storm damaged area.
Palmer said no injuries were reported in connection with the storm.
Anyone needing to report property damage that has not been seen or reported to Palmer are asked to contact him by calling 586-0531 or by email at rpalmer@simpsoncounty.us.
The Simpson County emergency management director said the surprise storm should remind people to have a weather radio in order to keep constantly informed about the weather. Palmer will program weather radios for anyone not able to do so.
He also encourages residents to take part in storm spotter classes and Community Emergency Response Team work sessions.
National Weather Service officials from the Louisville and Nashville offices surveyed the damage Wednesday and said the tornado was likely a E-F2 on the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity with winds ranging from 113 to 157 miles per hour. The tornado cut a nine-mile long, 150-foot wide path through the two counties, the weather service officials estimated. They said wind speeds likely reached 120 mph.
Most of the major damage was concentrated in the general area around Ky. 100 east in Simpson County near the Allen County line, according to Simpson County Emergency Management Director Bob Palmer.
According to the Fujita Scale, a E-F2 is a “significant tornado” that typically causes considerable damage, including roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; and large trees snapped or uprooted.
The storm, which hit between noon and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, came with little or no warning. Severe storms were in the extended forecast for southern states as a cold front swooped down from the north. The temperature is downtown Franklin reached 67 degrees before the front came through.
Palmer said a tornado warning from the National Weather Service was issued at 12:16 p.m. – about the time witnesses said the tornado hit. Palmer said several people who lived in the area commented on how quick the storm developed.
The Weather Service had sent out a special notice around noon that strong thunderstorms were moving through the area and were capable of producing tornadoes. The same storm spawned three tornadoes that were confirmed in and around Louisville and nine in all in three states (Indiana and Mississippi) by the National Weather Service.
Most of the damage in southcentral Kentucky was reported in the area along Scottsville Road and McKendree Chapel Road between Hickory Flat and the Allen County line in Simpson County.
Palmer said 20 structures were damaged or destroyed. He said two homes and a double-wide trailer received major structure damage, while four or five other homes suffered minor damage, such as roofs missing. He said five or six barns and outbuildings were destroyed while as many were damaged. A camper was destroyed, and the former Barnes School building was also damaged.
The destroyed homes included one on McKendree Chapel Road and two on Scottsville Road near the Allen County line, including a double-wide mobile home. The James Brown family reportedly lived in the destroyed home on McKendree Chapel Road, while Mickey and Melissa Gregory lived in a home on Scottsville Road that was destroyed. The destroyed double-wide trailer on Scottsville Road was being rented by the Dale and Jessica Forshee family and owned by Jimmy and Vickie Law.
Ms. Forshee narrowly missed being home when the storm destroyed her residence.
“I left to buy hamburger meat for supper four minutes before,” Ms. Forshee said.
She said her husband witnessed the storm from the cab of his semi truck.
Ms. Forshee said the double-wide trailer was moved off its foundation, and a tree fell in the living room area.
“It's terrible,” she said.
Numerous trees were uprooted and utility poles were downed resulting in scattered electrical outages in the storm damaged area.
Palmer said no injuries were reported in connection with the storm.
Anyone needing to report property damage that has not been seen or reported to Palmer are asked to contact him by calling 586-0531 or by email at rpalmer@simpsoncounty.us.
The Simpson County emergency management director said the surprise storm should remind people to have a weather radio in order to keep constantly informed about the weather. Palmer will program weather radios for anyone not able to do so.
He also encourages residents to take part in storm spotter classes and Community Emergency Response Team work sessions.
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