CHAPLIN, Ky. — A family in rural Nelson County said they are counting their blessings after a confirmed EF-1 tornado ripped through half of their house Tuesday.
The mother of the home said she was on the phone with 911 around 8:55 a.m. as the screaming winds took out their garage and shop space attached to their home. This all went down in Chaplin, Kentucky and as of Tuesday afternoon, there was debris scattered across their property.
Cheryl Fahey's daughter and her family live in that house. She said they own a few barns and that thankfully no one was injured.
"There was somebody upstairs who was looking out for all of us," Fahey said.
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Fahey said her daughter was with her husband and four kids taking shelter in a closet underneath their staircase during the storm. Right after it passed, they took the children to a neighbor's home and immediately neighbors started to help pick up the pieces.
"A couple of times she just broke down because she was just so thankful that none of the kids, that nobody got lost," Fahey said.
The family built the house in 2020 and only lived in it for three years. Half of the structure is now missing and the other half is now leaking water across the roof.
John Gordon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Louisville, said this home in Chaplin was one of his many stops today.
"We got a lot of property to look at," Gordon said. "We got to look at Washington County, Anderson County, Jessamine County, and hopefully by 8 o'clock tonight I'll be in Bourbon County."
Gordon said the damage indicates an EF-1 tornado with approximately 90 mph winds touched down.
"I mean this is very typical," Gordon said. "A lot of roof damage, a lot of tree damage, twisting and turning of the debris mainly towards the northeast, east, and southeastern direction."
Once the storm passed, within minutes neighbors started helping clear the debris and salvage tool boxes and totes of items before the next rain shower blew in.
Fahey said their friends brought in clothes, trailers, bulldozers and much more to help out the family.
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