After a devastating tornado swept through western Kentucky last night, many Fulton County residents are without power and shelter, as they deal with the aftermath left in the tornado’s wake.
The Fulton County’s Office of Emergency Management shared a press release on their Facebook page at 11:34 a.m. Saturday updating the public on the current situation in the county.
The release said Fulton County Judge-Executive Jim Martin had declared a state of emergency for Fulton County, citing the significant damage caused by Friday night’s tornado and severe storms.
As of Saturday morning, there has been one confirmed fatality and five injuries from the county’s Office of Emergency Management. The current specifics of the one death have yet to be released.
The release also said many residents are currently without electricity, especially in the Cayce area.
Gibson Electric Corporation, which covers parts of Fulton County, shared a post on their Facebook page stating there were still outages in 25 different locations including Fulton County. They continue work to replace poles and fix power lines, but the utility provider said the damage is extensive and restoration will take awhile.
There is an advisory in place stating anyone who plans to go through Cayce should find an alternate route. Electric restoration, debris removal, damage assessment and search and rescue operation are all currently underway in the region.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on their Facebook page warning both Highway 94 and Highway 239 leading into the Cayce community will be closed to allow first responders and utility crews to continue their work.
There are multiple homes and businesses structures reported as being either damaged or destroyed from the tornado. First responders on the scene in Cayce report the Fulton County Fire and Rescue building and a local trailer park have been completely wiped away from the severe weather.
Residents who need to report damage of any kind in Fulton County are encouraged to call either 270-236-3480 or 270-236-2594. Immediate Emergencies should be referred to 911.
