Tornadoes and sever storms hit several parts of the US on Friday, leaving at least 23 dead and thousands of buildings damaged.

Nine tornadoes struck Missouri and Kentucky on May 16, including a deadly EF3 in Scott County that killed two people and destroyed homes. The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes up to EF4 strength.

The agency’s office in Jackson, Kentucky, had begun closing nightly as deep cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency began hitting. But the weather service kept staffers on overtime Friday night to stay on top of the deadly storms, which killed nearly 20 people in the Jackson office’s forecast area.

Sen. Josh Hawley did not hold back on demanding accountability for insurance providers, saying "faithful premium payers" deserve their claims grants as the Midwest fights to recover from deadly storms.

On May 18, Beshear confirmed the death of an adult woman from Russell County, which is 116 miles south of Louisville, bringing Kentucky's confirmed death toll up to 19, according to his post on X. The victim's age was not disclosed.

Severe storms across parts of the U.S. Midwest and South have left at least 23 people dead. Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday that there were 14 weather-related deaths in Kentucky — including from what appeared to be a devastating tornado.