COVINGTON, Ky. — Several Northern Kentucky fire departments sent members of their crews to southern Kentucky on Saturday to assist with search and rescue and clean-up efforts in the aftermath of severe storms.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday in preparation for the severe weather. Beshear posted on X late Saturday afternoon, that at least 18 people had been killed in the storms, which also wiped out power for more than 100,000.
I’m sad to report the death toll from last night’s severe weather has grown to 18; 17 from Laurel County and one from Pulaski County. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for these families during this difficult time. 1/2
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) May 17, 2025
Jeff Brinkman, an engineer, EMT and driver for the Covington Fire Department and the president of the Local 38 union, said that an alert went out around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning to Northern Kentucky departments asking for a team to deploy to help efforts in London, Kentucky.
"We just want to help, we just want to do what we can. Every little bit helps in this situation," Brinkman said.
A 22-person team from the NKY Technical Response Team was deployed to London, including four members from the Covington Fire Department. Other than those from Covington, members from fire departments in Point Pleasant, Hebron, Fort Mitchell, Central Campbell and Campbell Fire Rescue were all part of the team deployed.
"When we send our members down there, they're ready to go to work right away and basically do whatever they can to ease some of that pain that's going on down there," Brinkman said.
The team returned around 4:30 pm on Saturday afternoon.
Hear more from those who went to southern Kentucky in the video below:
Amy Shaefer is a captain with the Covington Fire Department who went down with the NKY Technical Response Team.
“We were doing ground searches for the structural collapses that they had from the tornado, and then we’re also collecting critical data to provide to the state,” Shaefer said.
Chuck Rice, a Hebron Fire Department firefighter and the assistant chief of operations with the NKY Technical Response Team, also went down to London to help. He and Shaefer say even though they’re trained for this, the devastation is heartbreaking.
“There’s people who don’t have anything right now, they’re picking up pieces, and that’s, that’s part of the heartache, is you’re trying to check and make sure their loved ones are okay and they're trying to pick up their pieces,” Rice said.
That’s why Cincinnati-based nonprofit Matthew 25 Ministries is loading up its trucks, filled with those everyday necessities people will need as they recover.
“We’ll have personal care kits, cleaning supplies, baby items, tarps, water, tools, first aid and safety kits,” said Ben Williams, the chief disaster relief officer with Matthew 25 Ministries.
They will also have shower and laundry trailers available.
Matthew 25 is accepting donations to help those impacted by the severe storms. If you wish to donate, you can drop off items at their warehouse at 11060 Kenwood Rd, Blue Ash, OH 45242, or donate online.
An official state donation list is expected to be released in the upcoming days after officials are able to assess the damage and see exactly what each community needs.
