LEXINGTON, Ky. ( WKYT /Gray News) – A firefighter in Kentucky died Saturday morning after being injured while responding to storm damage. The Laurel County Fire Department confirmed the death of Major Leslie Roger Leatherman in a post on social media.

A Laurel County firefighter who spent nearly 40 years serving his community died Friday night while protecting others during the devastating tornado outbreak in southern Kentucky.

As recovery efforts continue, emergency management teams are conducting damage assessments to help Kentucky qualify for federal disaster assistance.

A reported tornado claimed lives in Laurel County, causing destruction and displacing many. Shelters are open and efforts are underway to help those affected.

Entire neighborhoods were razed, leaving residents combing through debris, desperate to recover fragments of their lives.

A preliminary survey by National Weather Service Jackson suggests an EF-3 tornado struck Laurel County late Friday.

A Kentucky firefighter is being hailed as a hero after he lost his life during a devastating tornado, potentially while protecting his own wife from the

Law enforcement is cracking down so that the only thing survivors have to focus on is building their lives back.