A storm dropped an EF-2 tornado in Hopkinsville, damaging multiple buildings and displacing families Saturday night, according to an assessment team from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service in Paducah said a tornado with winds 100 mph or higher caused damage to the Eagle Crossing Apartments along with two businesses on Pembroke Road, three on Fort Campbell Boulevard and a barn on Russellville Road. They added the tornado was at least an EF-2, but may have been higher.
Multiple trees and power poles were also damaged in the storm.
The damage happened at the Eagle Crossing on Calvin Drive. Two roofs and one wall was severely damaged from the storms that affected 170 people in 48 units, according to Hopkinsville Fire Department. Six people were treated at the scene and released, three people were transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Building D received the worst damage, with 25 percent of the second floor destroyed.
Residents were evacuated to the Hopkinsville Recreation Department where the Red Cross will be on hand to assist. The evacuation was ordered due to the potential of a roof collapse. Pennyrile Allied Community Service is assisting with evacuation transportation.
Damage was also reported at the old K-Mart building on Fort Campbell Boulevard, a building on Faultless Road where no people were present, the roof of Audio Specialist on Fort Campbell Boulevard was reportedly damaged, and Atmos Energy on Pembroke Road, as well as a home next door, have significant roof damage.
One apartment complex resident, Jay Kleiss had lived there for nearly six years. He was in his apartment when he heard a loud wind.
“It got a little scarier,” he said.
He was standing by the window when his girlfriend suggested he come stand by her, away from the window. He thought that was a good plan.
Kleiss said his apartment came out OK. Kleiss said it looked like the tornado jumped over his apartment.
He went outside to look and saw there were trees down and people franticly trying to figure out what to do next.
Kleiss tried to help organize some people and was also taking photos of the damage while he walked around. He spoke to those he found to make sure everyone was OK. Some were crying or had lost their pets. Some needed to call their family to let them know they were OK.
Kleiss saw a man passing out water. He went to help him.
Kleiss as some point realized he was walking around in mud and broken glass.
Then he stepped on a downed power line.
“Oh my gosh. I’m barefoot and I stepped on a power line,” he recalled thinking.
But he is a very lucky man, he said after not being injured.
He still continued taking photos and helping people.
“It’s what I do. Take photos and try to help people,” Kleiss said.
Two other complex residents, Locke Ludlow and Amanda Workman were in their apartment when it happened.
Workman described it as all happening very fast.
Ludlow explained they were watching TV and then the power went out. Workman looked out the window and said they had to take cover. She didn’t see a tornado touch down but she knew they had to go.
“It just got light,” she said.
She described it like the flash of light right after lightning.
“It was also loud, like a train. When it hit the building, you can feel it,” she said.
Luckily, they were all OK when it was over. Their three cats were scattered across the apartment. The pair went outside and were hit by rain flying sidewise. But they were fine.
The apartment just had small leaks from the ceiling. The apartment above them was damaged. Ludlow said if anyone walked into a back bedroom and looked up, they could see sky.
Officials in Trigg County say only minor damage, such as trees down, has been reported.
Todd County dispatch said a roof was taken off the home at Davis Mill Road and Bell Chapel, but no one was injured.
by New Era staff reports
February 25, 2018
