Stormy Weather Tonight

Life in Christian County, Kentucky...

We're under a tornado watch tonight. About an hour ago, a bad storm passed over us. The air was ominously heavy and still as a continuously-rumbling cloud with a lot of lightning passed overhead. I wouldn't say it sounded like a freight train as one always hears about tornadoes, but it certainly was growling loudly. Our electricity went out for about ten minutes.

I read the following reports a few minutes ago on Weather Underground's report for Hopkinsville, and I know now why we heard sirens as the storm was passing over us. I hope that no lives have been lost.

04/02/2006 0923 PM
4 miles N of Hopkinsville, Christian County. Tornado, reported by law enforcement. Update... numerous homes destroyed along Princeton, Greenville and Billy Goat Roads. Power lines down and gas lines erupting. Law enforcement, Fire Dept and EM searching for victims at this time. Lsr reported by WFO Paducah Kentucky.

04/02/2006 0922 PM
4 miles N of Hopkinsville, Christian County. Tornado, reported by law enforcement. Update... State Police report lots of damage. Numerous homes destroyed and mobile homes overturned from Princeton Road to the Pennyrile Parkway. Lsr reported by WFO Paducah Kentucky.

04/02/2006 0909 PM
4 miles N of Hopkinsville, Christian County. Tornado, reported by law enforcement. 3 homes destroyed. No details. Lsr reported by WFO Paducah Kentucky.

04/02/2006 0902 PM Hopkinsville, Christian County. Tornado, reported by Emergency Mngr. Touchdown in Princeton Road area. Major damage reported. No details at this time. Lsr by WFO Paducah Kentucky.

UPDATE:
WHOP radio has brought in some reporters. They are interrupting regular programming with frequent reports on the storm damage and the response efforts. Three-fourths of Hopkinsville has no electrical power because of damage to TVA transmission lines. Eston Glover of Pennyrile Electric says that at least a couple dozen electric poles are broken. Electric lines are down in many areas, and residents are cautioned to avoid them! Much damage is reported in the area just north of Hopkinsville. There have been injuries, but no deaths are reported as of yet. Volunteer fire departments have been called in and a staging area has been set up at the high school football stadium. Crews are being sent out to check house-to-house but their progress has been hampered by trees and telephone poles that have fallen onto the roadways. People with chain saws are asked to volunteer. They should report to the stadium and they'll be sent out to clear the roadways of fallen trees. The Trigg County Rescue Squad is here as well.