Latest news with #EF2
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Hold on to me.' Victim saved fiancee in violent tornado that hit Central KY
When Ronnie Hill and his fiance Tonya Orberson heard a tornado with its 115 mph winds barreling down on their Washington County home right around 7 a.m. Friday morning, they raced to the laundry room. Ronnie laid of top of Tonya and told her, 'No matter what, you hold on to me.' 'She said all of a sudden, they just all went up in the air. Her and Ronnie were still holding hands, Lashanna Gibson, who is Orberson's daughter, told the Herald-Leader Saturday. 'She was screaming, and Ronnie was saying, 'Do not let go.'' The raging tornado lifted and destroyed their home, sending the couple flying. 'They ended up beside the pond. They were still laying right beside of each other whenever they hit the ground, Gibson said. 'Mom said she woke up and she was hollering for him. He wouldn't answer her. She looked over and she could tell that he was already gone. ' 'He protected her until his last breath,' Gibson said. 'He was a true hero.' The 48-year-old Ronnie, the only person who died in Friday's EF2 tornado that struck Washington County, and Tonya got engaged to be married in late April. They hadn't yet set a wedding date. Tonya was at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital Saturday with a broken back, a broken arm, a dislocated elbow and a large cut on her head, Gibson said. Jack Coleman, a former state lawmaker and father of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, said Ronnie worked for him as a contractor. Coleman was the project manager during the construction of All Together Recovery, a 50-bed residential addiction treatment center for men in Danville. Coleman worked with Ronnie, who continued to oversee maintenance and remodeling at the center's apartments after construction was completed. 'He could do anything,' he said Saturday. 'We hired Ronnie last summer. He was wonderful. He had just come out of recovery. He had a powerful testimony. He gave people hope that they could be successful in recovery, too. 'He was really a goodhearted fellow,' Coleman added. 'He wanted to help people.' Coleman said when he learned on Friday that Ronnie had died, 'I just couldn't believe it.' Mark La Palme, a consultant at the All Together Recovery Center, said the men in recovery who lived in the apartments where Ronnie was a maintenance man and remodeler, cried when they heard he died. 'He had a ton of past to overcome, but he did it,' said LaPalme. 'He did it with grace and mercy and style. Ronnie would literally have given you his last penny, his last gallon of gas, the shirt off of his back. 'That's the kind of guy that Ronnie Hill was.'
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Four tornadoes confirmed east of Denver on Sunday afternoon
At least two powerful EF2 tornadoes touched down east of the Denver Metro Area last weekend At least two powerful EF2 tornadoes touched down east of the Denver Metro Area last weekend At least two powerful EF2 tornadoes touched down east of the Denver Metro Area last weekend The weather turned dangerous Sunday afternoon just east of the Denver metro area, where four tornadoes touched down between 1 and 2 p.m. Three of the four were rated EF2, and one was an EF1. Two of the EF2 tornadoes tracked near Bennett and Elkhorn Ranch, producing estimated winds up to 125 mph. Incredibly, the two tornadoes near Bennett were on the ground simultaneously, from 1:40 to 1:46 p.m. Damage surveys were conducted on Monday. Here are the preliminary reports: Elkhorn Ranch Tornado (NW Elbert County) This tornado formed around 1:07 p.m. and was classified as a strong landspout, which is uncommon for this area. It caused damage near the Elkhorn neighborhood before dissipating five minutes later. Rating: EF2 Winds: Estimated 125 mph Path: 0.94 miles Width: 50 yards No injuries or fatalities Greg Torfin's home in Elbert County was damaged by a tornado. CBS Manila Road Tornado (Arapahoe County) The second tornado touched down south of Manila Village and tracked northeast. This one was tied to a more organized supercell. Rating: EF1 Winds: Estimated 95 mph Path: 2.53 miles Width: 75 yards No injuries or fatalities Tornado in Bennett capturedd on traffic camera along I-70 Colorado Department of Transportation Bennett Tornado #1 (Arapahoe to Adams County) This was the most significant tornado of the day, with a long 5-mile path just west and north of Bennett. Rating: EF2 Winds: Estimated 125 mph Path: 5.09 miles Width: 200 yards No injuries or fatalities A tornado in Adams County on Sunday. Cory Samaniego Lee Bennett Tornado #2 (Northeast of Town) A second tornado formed while the first was still on the ground, overlapping in time but not location. It was the widest of the four, with a path stretching over 4.5 miles. Rating: EF2 Winds: Estimated 112 mph Path: 4.62 miles Width: 400 yards No injuries or fatalities A tornado that struck Colorado on Sunday. Vickki Katchen
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Two Colorado tornadoes rated as EF2 by National Weather Service
The National Weather Service has rated two of the four tornadoes that hit Colorado on Sunday as EF2. Those tornadoes hit the town of Bennett and the Elkhorn neighborhood in Elbert County, damaging more than a dozen homes. A tornado that struck Colorado on Sunday. Vickki Katchen According to the National Weather Service, "The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) rates tornado intensity based on damage assessment, with wind speeds ranging from 65 to 200 mph or more. The scale ranges from EF0 (weak, light damage) to EF5 (violent, devastating damage)." NWS describes the EF Scale as follows: EF0 (Weak): Light damage, wind speeds around 65-85 mph. Light damage, wind speeds around 65-85 mph. EF1 (Weak): Moderate damage, wind speeds around 86-110 mph. Moderate damage, wind speeds around 86-110 mph. EF2 (Strong): Considerable damage, wind speeds around 111-135 mph. Considerable damage, wind speeds around 111-135 mph. EF3 (Strong): Severe damage, wind speeds around 136-165 mph. Severe damage, wind speeds around 136-165 mph. EF4 (Violent): Devastating damage, wind speeds around 166-200 mph. Devastating damage, wind speeds around 166-200 mph. EF5 (Violent): Incredible damage, wind speeds of 201 mph or greater.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado confirmed in Russell County during KY storms. Assessments continue
At least one tornado touched down in Russell County and moved into western Pulaski County during severe storms late Friday and early Saturday in Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service. A preliminary report from the weather service confirmed an EF2 level of damage from the storm. One person died in Pulaski County. The victim was identified as Melody Godby, 68, who lived in the Poplarville community, on the eastern side of the county, said Coroner Clyde Strunk. A woman also died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Russell County after power went out on her houseboat during the storm, and she turned on her generator. The damage could be upgraded to an EF3 depending on further assessments. Wind speeds were confirmed up to 145 miles per hour. This first preliminary investigation includes only Russell and Pulaski Counties. Surveyors are on the ground Sunday in Laurel County, which saw widespread destruction and had recorded 17 deaths as of Saturday, conducting assessments. Survey assessments are expected to last most of Sunday and into Monday, Mark Jarvis, a meteorologist with the NWS said. The Enhanced Fujita scale is a system used to categorize tornado intensity based on the damage they cause, ranging from the weakest ranking, EF0, to the highest, EF5. Jarvis said the EF scale is based on damage to structures — not characteristics of the tornado itself. Surveyors with the NWS analyze damage to buildings, trees, outbuildings, and cars to estimate the EF rating. The damage level takes into account the home's structure, foundation and whether it is up to code. Those factors help surveyors determine the strength and speed of the winds. For example, Jarvis said, if a home is built well with heavy bracing and it is significantly damaged, engineers can determine winds were more severe. But engineers often see homes built quickly and poorly that are not anchored or up to code. Those homes may take damage from less severe winds. This is a developing story.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Portage to mark 1 year since tornado with ceremony, focus on recovery
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Portage will hold a public ceremony Wednesday to mark one year since a tornado ripped through the community, causing widespread destruction. The gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Celery Flats Pavilion. City leaders will speak, volunteers and recovery partners will be recognized and a moment of reflection will be held. Tree seedlings will be given away to symbolize renewal. Mayor Patricia Randall recalled the tornado's arrival on what had started as a beautiful day. Seconds after receiving a warning call from her father, sirens sounded. She lives close to where the EF2 tornado touched down and described the rapid response that followed. 'Very grateful': Couple recounts moments sheltering from 2024 Portage tornado 'I felt that we received a lot of support from the city of Kalamazoo and the county of Kalamazoo because 90% of the damage was done in our community,' Randall said. 'That's a good feeling to be a part of a neighborhood network.' City Hall became a hub for volunteer coordination. The state has since provided $3 million in disaster relief, including $1 million directed toward businesses. Portage's request for a major disaster declaration was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency The tornado brought down 48,000 trees, blocking roads and damaging homes and businesses. Randall said while much of the cleanup is done, ecological recovery is far from over. The historic nature of the May 7, 2024, tornado outbreak 'We're doing everything we can. Forty-eight thousand trees are a significant part of our canopy. We are a tree city. We value trees and all of the good that they bring to the environment and to our quality of life. So this will be a long journey,' she said. Fire risk from dead trees and efforts to restore habitats remain ongoing concerns. The city is now exploring the hire of a part-time emergency manager, since Randall said about a quarter of the municipal budget is set aside for crisis response. Wednesday's event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
