LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Storm systems sweeping across parts of the U.S. Midwest and South have left at least 23 people dead, many of them in Kentucky, where what appeared to be a devastating tornado pulverized homes and flipped over a car on an interstate.
In Kentucky, some 14 people were killed by severe weather, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to Gov. Andy Beshear. Local authorities in Laurel County, in the state’s southeast, said nine people were killed after a tornado touched down. Authorities announced Saturday afternoon that a firefighter with the Laurel County Fire Department had died after being injured while responding to the deadly weather. The fire department did not immediately say how Major Roger Leslie Leatherman, a 39-year veteran, was injured or when he died.
If we have half of last year’s deaths at 5 months (instead of at 6 months), then it is an increase of 16% which, for weather, is within the scope of what I would expect from one year to another. It’s about 4 more deaths in the first 5 months than last year.
Of course this year’s deaths might have been lower than last year without Trump’s intervention. It’s possible his actions will cause dozens of deaths by the end of the year.