WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — One person died and several others were injured when an EF-2 tornado tore through Washington County on May 30, 2025.

A year later, Emergency Management Services Director Kevin Devine is now reflecting on the scene left behind.

“It looked like a bomb went off in several houses,” Devine said.

The tornado left widespread destruction in its path.

“It was just trees mangled, a house blew off, windshields, vehicles cracked and moved,” Devine said.

The tornado touched down on Long Run Road, a rural one-lane road. Crews used chainsaws to cut through debris to clear a path for ambulances.

Access to the area proved difficult for emergency responders.

“It had rained a lot so if you got off the road a little bit you had a chance of getting stuck,” Devine said.

Devine, who has served as director of Emergency Management Services for more than two decades, called the response his toughest experience in that role.

“It was a challenge getting in and out and getting people in and out because everybody’s trying to go both ways,” Devine said.

The search and rescue operation took nearly 100 volunteers from multiple counties.

Now, as the county plans for future severe weather events, Devine said he does not see Washington County adding to its six warning sirens already in place — outside of some additional communication efforts with neighboring communities.

“We’re such a rural county, we can’t really put them next to every house,” Devine said. “With the news the way it is you now can get your warnings on your phone pretty easily.”

At the site on the hill above Long Run Road, recovery has taken a personal shape. Tonya Orberson lost her fiancé, Ronnie Hill, in the tornado. According to Devine, she now has a new home, complete with a basement.

Devine credited the community for making that recovery possible.

“They really pitched in and helped,” Devine said.

Happy Pride Month!

About 9% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual, and some places are safer for and more welcoming of those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Here’s how Kentucky ranks compared to other states.

How Kentucky ranks for being welcoming, safe for LGBTQ+ members

Kentucky ranks No. 35 out of 50 states for being welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community, according to Out Leadership’s State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index. While the commonwealth has climbed eight spots since 2019, it earned about 41 out of 100 possible points, receiving a B- grade.

The report comes as national scores continue to decline. The average state score has fallen for four consecutive years and now sits at 53.1, with 26 states scoring below 60, Out Leadership founder and CEO Todd Sears told USA TODAY.

The index suggests acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. has declined in recent years, reversing progress that once improved the well-being and safety of LGBTQ+ communities, Sears said.

Kentucky got consecutive home runs from Jayce Tharnish and Tyler Bell to take a 9-6 lead over West Virginia. Chase Alderman and Nile Adcock combined to record five consecutive scoreless innings. The Bat Cats were three outs away from reaching — and hosting — a super regional.

West Virginia had other plans.

Free passes, a balk, and a three-run home run from Paul Schoenfield plated five runs in the ninth. It was absolute chaos in Kendrick Family Ballpark. Kentucky snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

That sets up one final game between the Wildcats and the Mountaineers again, but this one could sting for some time. Jeff Drummond and myself are reacting to the crushing loss by taking a look at what went wrong, how it got off the rails so quickly. and what could be on the horizon for tomorrow.

Smash that play button.

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