ClayCoNews staff —May 30, 2025, 2:45 PM EDT
LONDON, KY – As Eastern Kentucky rebuilds from the EF-4 tornado that killed 19 and leveled homes in Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell counties on May 16-17, 2025, scammers are preying on survivors’ pain.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office issued an urgent alert about a group posing as “Flight for Life,” led by someone claiming to be Brian Clark, soliciting donations via PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp. Operating in-person in devastated areas like Somerset’s downtown and possibly on Facebook, these scammers target the generosity of communities reeling from 25,000 power outages and hundreds of destroyed homes.
ClayCoNews has seen this before. After the 2021 Mayfield tornadoes killed over 50, fraudsters swarmed Western Kentucky with fake contractors and charities. Now, with Laurel County’s Findley Trailer Park in ruins and Pulaski’s businesses shattered, the Pulaski Sheriff’s Office warns of similar threats. “This is an unconfirmed report, but we urge caution,” the sheriff’s alert states, advising against donating to unfamiliar groups.
Scam Spotlight: ‘Flight for Life’
The “Flight for Life” scam, reported to Pulaski County authorities, involves requests for online payments under the guise of tornado relief. The sheriff’s office notes these scammers may knock on doors in neighborhoods like London’s Sunshine Meadows or use Facebook to spread their net. While unconfirmed, the alert echoes past scams, like 2021’s fraudulent GoFundMe pages in Bowling Green. Clay County, spared the tornado’s worst but hit by storms like the March gust that crushed Marcum Ray Adams’s still-unrepaired home on Curry Branch Road, is no stranger to such threats.
Other Scams to Watch
- Bogus Contractors: Fraudulent “repairmen” demand upfront cash, then disappear. In 2021, Mayfield residents lost thousands to unlicensed roofers. Verify licenses at dhbc.ky.gov and insist on written contracts.
- FEMA Impostors: Scammers posing as FEMA officials seek personal data or fees. FEMA never charges. Contact them at 1-800-621-3362 or disasterassistance.gov.
- Price Gouging: Hotels and suppliers hike prices post-disaster. Somerset motels reportedly charged $200/night after the tornado. Report gouging to 1-888-432-9257.
Clay County’s Fight
Clay County knows hardship—many families rely on LIHEAP to survive. “These folks are poor, depending on the system,” says Ron Curry, ClayCoNews’s editor. “Scammers hit them hardest.” With “high dollar” rehab centers like Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) expanding to Louisville and Ohio, locals question where aid goes, fueling distrust. “ClayCoNews, battling ad-disguised submissions from groups like ARC, now charges insertion fees in order to prioritize authentic real news stories. (https://www.clayconews.com/advertise-with-clayconews).”
Stay Safe
- Verify: Check charities at give.org. Local groups like Laurel County’s Community Action Agency are safer.
- Document: Photograph damage, as Gov. Andy Beshear urged, and contact insurers first.
- Report: Call the Kentucky Attorney General (1-888-432-9257).
- Support: Donate to verified groups like the Laurel County Fiscal Court or the Pulaski County Fiscal Court.
ClayCoNews stands with survivors. “We’re not fancy like ARC’s centers,” Curry says, “but we’re real.” Stay vigilant—Kentucky’s heart outlasts storms and scammers.
Photos are screenshots from this Laurel County, Ky. Fiscal Court VIDEO.
