Last update as of 1:48 AM EDT, May 18, 2025
LONDON, KY (May 17, 2025, 11:33 PM EDT) – A violent tornado ravaged London, Kentucky, late Friday night, demolishing homes and businesses, but miraculously sparing the home of Christopher Curry and his family in Findley Trailer Park after they escaped the storm’s path twice. Two TikTok videos recorded by Christopher Curry and posted by JerseyBull captured their harrowing ordeal, and now the family is contributing to community recovery, with Curry setting up a generator at their trailer before dark on Saturday after a day of cleanup efforts.
The Curry family first fled their home in Findley Trailer Park, seeking refuge at a business on U.S. 25 south of London. Realizing they were still in the tornado’s path, they fled again, racing south on Hwy 25 toward Corbin around 11:00 PM EDT. The first TikTok video shows their emotional return to Findley Trailer Park, where their trailer stood intact amid obliterated surroundings. “It’s a miracle. Everything around us is gone, but our home’s still standing,” Christopher Curry said, standing among debris.
Curry family fleeing path of violent tornado in London, KY Photo courtesy of Christopher Curry
Watch the return video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jett_2021/video/7505325027626208542.
The second TikTok video, just seconds long, recorded by Christopher Curry inside their vehicle, captures the chilling roar of the approaching tornado as they fled south on Hwy 25. Watch the fleeing video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jett_2021/video/7505395118099238175. Returning hours later, the family found the business on U.S. 25 destroyed, yet their home unscathed.
After spending Saturday helping with community cleanup, Christopher Curry was setting up a generator at their trailer just before dark to restore power, ensuring their home remains functional amid widespread outages. The family, currently staying at their daughter’s home, plans to continue supporting recovery efforts.
The tornado, part of a 500-mile-long supercell, struck London in Laurel County at approximately 11:49 PM on May 16, 2025, causing catastrophic damage across the city’s south side, home to about 8,500 residents.
Preliminary assessments suggest the storm may have reached EF-4 intensity, killing at least 17 people in Laurel County and one in Pulaski County, with 18 confirmed deaths statewide as of Saturday evening, per Governor Andy Beshear. At least 10 people remain in critical condition, and the death toll may rise as search-and-rescue continues. A Laurel County firefighter, Major Roger Leslie Leatherman, died while responding to storm damage.
Community Recovery Efforts
The London-Corbin Airport sustained severe damage, with medical helicopters destroyed and unconfirmed reports of aircraft caught in a funnel cloud. Neighborhoods like Findley Trailer Park, Sunshine Hills, and Oaks of London subdivision were flattened, with homes reduced to rubble. First responders reported “horrific” conditions, with rescue crews working through heavy rain. In Somerset, Pulaski County, a mass casualty event was declared, with damage to businesses like South End Speedway and Baxter’s Coffee. U.S. 27 remains closed from Bob Evans to Somerset Mall, and Ky. 363 in Laurel County is closed for evacuations.
Power outages impacted over 100,000 Kentucky residents at their peak, with nearly 70,000 still without power statewide by Saturday evening. South Laurel High School is serving as a warming, first-aid, and food station, accepting donations of food, blankets, and supplies. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office offers a housing assistance hotline at (606) 521-3119, and WD Bryant Ace in London provides free ice, water, and charging stations. The Salvation Army is delivering hot meals and emotional support.
Governor Andy Beshear, who visited Laurel County on Saturday, called the event one of Kentucky’s deadliest, marking the 14th federally declared disaster during his tenure. He has coordinated with FEMA and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for federal aid. The National Weather Service (NWS) has not finalized the tornado’s EF rating, but the destruction suggests a storm far surpassing the EF-1 tornado in Corbin in May 2024.
Latest Updates (as of 1:48 AM EDT, May 18, 2025):
- Laurel County Damage: The Laurel County Fiscal Court reported tornado strikes across London-Corbin Airport, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, and Oaks of London subdivision. At least 17 deaths are confirmed, with multiple serious injuries.
- Somerset Impact: A tornado struck Somerset before London, prompting a state of emergency and one confirmed death. U.S. 27 remains closed.
- Road Closures: Whitley Street, Ky. 363, Hwy 1642 near RECC, and U.S. 27 in Somerset are closed.
- Community Response: Shelters are open at First Baptist Church (804 W. Fifth Street, London) and South Laurel High School Gym. The Corbin Police Department urges residents to stay off roads.
- Curry Family Status: Christopher Curry and his family are safe at their daughter’s home. After aiding community cleanup on Saturday, Curry set up a generator at their Findley Trailer Park home before dark. No further details on their efforts are available.
- Death Toll: Governor Beshear confirmed 18 deaths statewide, though London Mayor Randall Weddle reported up to 23 in Laurel County, pending verification by the Department for Public Health.
The two TikTok videos by JerseyBull, recorded by Christopher Curry, have inspired widespread support for London’s recovery, with the family’s survival and resilience offering hope amid tragedy. Residents are urged to avoid damaged areas to facilitate emergency operations and ensure safety during cleanup.
Follow ClayCoNews for updates on this evolving story.
