Devin Johnson faced upheaval once more when a tornado destroyed his home during the Memorial Day weekend — the same spot in Kentucky where another storm had left him homeless in 2021.
Johnson, 21, watched as workers used chainsaws to clear the debris from the trailer where he lived with his grandparents and girlfriend. It was a heartbreaking scene for his family, who had already lost their previous home in Barnsley to a devastating tornado outbreak in December 2021, which claimed 81 lives in Kentucky.
“We never imagined it could happen again,” Johnson said.
As they begin to rebuild their lives amidst uncertainty, Johnson emphasizes that one thing is clear.
Haley looks at the photographs (Via Benjamin Walsh/Shutterstock)
“All we know for sure is we won’t return here,” Johnson said. “This place holds too many memories of us losing everything.”
Barnsley was struck by a powerful tornado on Sunday, with winds reaching up to 165 mph (266 kph) and causing widespread damage across nearly 36 miles (58 kilometers) of Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service.
The area experienced multiple rounds of severe storms, and teams are assessing the damage to determine the number of tornadoes that occurred.
Another significant storm narrowly missed Mayfield on Sunday, where the community continues to recover painstakingly from a tornado that struck the town in 2021.
