Kentucky Natural Disasters by Austin Anthony

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 11...ys. Bowling Green United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 11: People walk down US 31-W Bypass to look at tornado debris in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. One or more tornados tore through Bowling Green in the early morning. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) In December 2021 a string of tornadoes hit Kentucky, including an EF-3 in Bowling Green and an EF-4 in Mayfield and Dawson Springs, resulting in dozens of deaths. In July 2022 the other side of the state was hit by catastrophic flooding spanning 13 counties and killing 40. I covered both disasters in the following days. Bowling Green United States

In December of 2021 EF 3 and 4 tornadoes hit the Western half of the state, and in July of 2022 catastrophic flooding hit the Eastern half. Between the two disasters over 100 Kentuckians died.

DAWSON SPRINGS, KY - DECEMBER 1...ost Bowling Green United States

DAWSON SPRINGS, KY - DECEMBER 11: Rocky Howton goes the the rubble of his home in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. One or more tornados tore through Dawson Springs late last night. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post Bowling Green United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 11...ost Bowling Green United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 11: A utility pole suspended by wires over Cabell Drive in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. One or more tornados tore through Bowling Green in the early morning. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post Bowling Green United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 11: Reed Mattison, bottom right, helps a family clean debris from their home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. One or more tornados tore through Bowling Green in the early morning. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post Bowling Green United States

DAWSON SPRINGS, KY - DECEMBER 1...st) Bowling Green United States

DAWSON SPRINGS, KY - DECEMBER 11: Thomas Shelby makes a fire as he prepares to stay the night by the rubble of his home to protect from potential looters in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. One or more tornados tore through Dawson Springs late last night. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Bowling Green United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Ethan...gton Post) Bremen United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Ethan, 11, hugs his mother Kim Goforth as they stand in front of the remains of her home in Bremen, Kentucky, on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Goforth survived with minimal injuries. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Bremen United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Angel...gton Post) Bremen United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Angela Murphy attempts to free her cat, Tony, from the rubble of her home in Bremen, Kentucky, on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Bremen United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Mary ...gton Post) Bremen United States

BREMEN, KY - DECEMBER 13: Mary Hobbs of Owensboro, Ky., looks around the house in which her niece survived the tornado in Bremen, Kentucky, on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Bremen United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 15: Lan...on Post) Mayfield United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 15: Lane Andreson, 7, kicks a ball to his sister, Lily Andreson, 9, in the front yard of their home which was hit by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Mayfield United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 15: A m...on Post) Mayfield United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 15: A memorial to those who died Mayfield, Kentucky, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Mayfield United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 24: Mar...on Post) Mayfield United States

MAYFIELD, KY - DECEMBER 24: Mary Ellen Matthews of Mayfield hugs a fellow congregant during a church service for displaced members of First Presbyterian and First Christian Churches in Mayfield, Kentucky, on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The remains of First Presbyterian are seen in the background. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Mayfield United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 14...st) Bowling Green United States

BOWLING GREEN, KY - DECEMBER 14: The sunrise shines through a hole in a house damaged by the tornado that passed by Moss Creek Avenue in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Austin Anthony for The Washington Post) Bowling Green United States

A home flooded by the Troubleso...Anthony for the New York Times)

A home flooded by the Troublesome Creek on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Breathitt County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY A row of houses des...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY A row of houses destroyed by Troublesome Creek next to Engle Cemetery on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Knott County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

Kenneth Neace looks at the rema...Anthony for the New York Times)

Kenneth Neace looks at the remains of his home on Lost Creek on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Breathitt County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

Sherry Mullins, left, and Heath...Anthony for the New York Times)

Sherry Mullins, left, and Heather Robertson hold Robertson’s mother Anita Henson, all of Breathitt County, Ky., as they talk about Robertson’s missing sister on Friday, July 29, 2022, at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Perry County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Cadaver dog Minny &...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Cadaver dog Minny “indicates” at a pile of rubble on Troublesome Creek on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Perry County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Jimmy McCaskey of t...Task Force picks up cadaver dog

NYTKENTUCKY Jimmy McCaskey of the Tennessee Task Force picks up cadaver dog

NYTKENTUCKY A car wedged sidewa...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY A car wedged sideways in a garage after the flood of Troublesome Creek on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Knott County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY An American flag in...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY An American flag inside a barn that was damaged in the flooding of Troublesome Creek on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Knott County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ralph Napier of Per...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ralph Napier of Perry County stands next to a burn pile for the ruined belongings of his tenant on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Perry County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ricky Walters, left...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ricky Walters, left, looks over the items thrown out by Jerry Lee Lewis, middle, and Teresa Brewer, right, to see if there’s anything he deems worth scavenging on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Jackson, Ky. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Second-grade teache...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Second-grade teacher Heather Hammond becomes emotional talking about the death of a student she was looking forward to teaching in the fall on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Emmalena Elementary School in Knott County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Johnny Mullins, Jr....Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Johnny Mullins, Jr., plays with his grandson Tyrone Cotton, 4 months, at Gospel Light Baptist Church on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Hazard, Ky. Gospel Light has turned their nave into a shelter for those displaced by the flooding. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Mud-stained kudzu v...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Mud-stained kudzu vines indicate the high water mark on Lotts Creek on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Perry County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Mennonite women, fr...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Mennonite women, from left, Chelsi Sensenig, Abigail Showalter, Asriel Evans, and Melody Showalter volunteer to sort donated clothing at the Knott County Sportsplex on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Knott County, Ky. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ronald Wooten takes...Anthony for the New York Times)

NYTKENTUCKY Ronald Wooten takes a natural shower on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Perry County, Ky. Wooten lost everything in the flood, and running water hasn’t been restored to the home of the people he is staying with. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)

A church flooded by the Trouble...Anthony for the New York Times)

A church flooded by the Troublesome Creek on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Breathitt County. (Austin Anthony for the New York Times)