Beechland Beach residents recount terrifying moments EF-2 tornado crossed Ohio River into Kentucky
One tornado Tuesday traveled through four counties, carrying at least 120 mile-per-hour winds and leaving behind a path of destruction. An EF-2 tornado crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky from Clark, Indiana into Jefferson, Kentucky, causing significant damage to the area. The National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornadoes in Louisville and surrounding counties. Anne Haynie, a resident at Beechland Beach, described the moment the tornado hit her home as "terrifying." The Haynie family faced another challenge as rising homeowner's insurance rates and potential cancellation of policies for those living near riverfront property who file claims beyond their control. The Hayni family's homes fared well compared to their neighbors', with minor damage compared to those further down the street. The tornado damage left behind was like nothing they'd seen before, and may lead to them being forced to leave their home.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Alena Noakes in Weather
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Surveys of Tuesday’s storm damage continue across Southern Indiana and Kentucky, as neighborhoods actively work to clean up the mess left behind.
So far, NWS has confirmed at least four tornadoes in Louisville and surrounding counties.
One of those tornados passed from Clark, Indiana into Jefferson, Kentucky. It traveled through four counties, carrying at least 120 mile-per-hour winds and leaving behind a path of destruction.
“You’re almost frozen in time,” Anne Haynie said. “Just terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.”
Haynie is a resident at the first home hit on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. She was watching weather coverage Tuesday when she saw tail lights on the East End Bridge disappear.
“All of us were watching the newscast, saw those East End Bridge shots and said, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Haynie said. “Because we don’t get the sirens. And so it was like, ‘Oh my gosh. We have got to go.’”
Haynie and her husband made their way to a lower-level closet to take cover.
In 12 years of living on the riverfront, they have experienced natural disasters, like the floods of 2018, but never a tornado.
Her husband took the opportunity to witness it all, strapping on a ski helmet. He watched as it raced across the river and hit its first victim - their house.
“This is like so cool to see,” Haynie recalled her husband yelling as he watched the tornado cross over. “It’s coming over the river. It’s heading over the river.”
The Haynie’s home suffered minor damage, compared to her neighbors further down the street, with only a tree to the kitchen and debris in the front yard.
“This is a very close-knit community back here,” Haynie said. “We love our homes. We love the area. But it’s hard. It’s hard.”
Bill Nuttall’s son lives next door to the Haynie family. He has been working with clean-up crews to make repairs on his son’s home. Crews were at the property late into Tuesday night, working by flashlight to tarp the roof.
The damage left behind by the EF-2 tornado was like nothing Nuttall had seen before.
“When I saw what the damage was, a whole roof taken off the house, the trees coming in, how they’re all twisted around, matter of fact, I thought it could have been higher than that,” Nuttall said.
His son’s home sustained damage to the master bedroom, but they will be able to live in it as they make repairs.
Nuttall and the Haynie’s homes fared well compared to their neighbors further down the road. Many people are displaced, some anticipating it will be at least six months until they can rebuild.
However, moving forward, the Haynie family will have to face another difficult challenge. Combined with FEMA’s new flood insurance premiums, rising homeowner’s insurance rates threaten their ability to keep their home.
Their insurance adjuster told them companies are canceling homeowner’s policies for people who live on or near riverfront property who file claims, like tornado damage, beyond their control.
“You hate to sell a house because of insurance, especially when you love your home, you love where you live, you love your neighbors,” Haynie said. “You’re so happy where you are, but insurance is the driving force on whether or not you can live where you want to live.”
After experiencing extreme damage from the 2018 floods, Tuesday’s tornado may be the final claim to force them out of their home.
Topics: Tornadoes