19 storm deaths now reported in Kentucky. Latest victim was 93-year-old woman
The death toll from this weekend’s severe storms in Kentucky reached 19 on Sunday after a 93-year-old woman died of carbon monoxide poisoning on her houseboat in Russell County.
Russell County Coroner Mark Coots identified the woman as Debra Edelman, of Richmond, Indiana.
Coots said Edelman was staying on a houseboat at State Boat Dock in Russell County when her power was knocked out during storms that rolled through Southern Kentucky late Friday and early Saturday.
She asked someone to turn on her generator, and she later died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to preliminary findings.
Edelman is the first recorded death in Russell County. Pulaski County has recorded one death, and Laurel County has recorded 17.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down in Russell County and moved into Pulaski County, and surveyors continue to assess damage to estimate the severity in Laurel County.
The latest disaster in Somerset and London, Beshear said, is “one of the worst in terms of damage.” At least nine people died in the Sunshine Hills Subdivision in Laurel County.
Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling confirmed the identities of 17 victims:
- Richard and Wanda McFall
- June Fisher
- Darlene Miller
- Nancy Clem
- Pam Mason
- Sherri Smith
- Tiffany Heim
- Ray Cowen
- Linda Sweet
- Gary Sweet
- Kenneth Elliott
- Marshall Miracle
- Bobby and Bernice Tillman
- Lisa Fortney
- Roger Leslie Leatherman
The Pulaski County victim was identified as Melodie Godby, 68. The death occurred in the Poplarville community on the eastern side of the county, said Coroner Clyde Strunk.
In a press conference late Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear said officials expect the death toll to continue to rise.
Beshear said Sunday 10 people remained hospitalized with injuries from the storms. Three were in critical condition, while four had been upgraded from critical to fair, and three had been upgraded from critical to good.
This story was originally published May 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM.
