Anthony Richey, a general forecaster with the National Weather Service in Jackson, said an assessment crew arrived in Harlan County early Thursday and concluded by day's end that an EF0 tornado had occurred.
"It's the weakest rating a tornado can have, with wind speeds from 65 to 85 mph," Richey said.
Richey said a dollar estimate has not been attached to Thursday's assessments, which David McGill, Harlan County Disaster and Emergency Services Director, said are still ongoing.
"There have been a number of homes and commercial buildings damaged," McGill said, adding that more reports of damage came in on Thursday.
The storm struck between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday, leaving behind the most severe damage in the Browning Acres and Grays Knob areas. Areas of Evarts, Wallins, Cawood and Catrons Creek were also hit, McGill said, as well as most areas throughout the county with the exception of Cumberland.
On Wednesday, Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop said more than half a million dollars in damage had already been estimated. Utility poles and power lines were blown to the ground and trees were uprooted, and the Harlan County School System immediately met in special session Wednesday to declare a state of emergency due to roof damage at James A. Cawood High School and the school district's nearby maintenance building. Bleachers and dugouts at the school's baseball field were also destroyed.
Portions of the county lost power almost immediately after the storm began. Baxter, Browning Acres, Grays Knob and most of Harlan were without electricity and telephone service on Wednesday.
Grieshop said an emergency declaration has been sent to Frankfort. Counties that suffered damaged from Tuesday's tornadic activity, including Laurel and Casey, must have damage estimates total $4 million before a state of emergency can be declared, he said.
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See more storm photos on Page 8
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