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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2088
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A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in honor of Kentucky's 1
rural electric cooperative utility workers who provided vital support during the deadly 2
tornado that devastated Kentucky on May 16, 2025. 3
WHEREAS, On May 16, 2025, a deadly severe weather breakout spawned 4
devastating tornadoes causing significant damage in Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, and 5
Arkansas, with Kentucky experiencing peak winds estimated at 179 miles per hour; and 6
WHEREAS, on that evening, an EF -4 tornado nearly a mile wide ripped through 7
parts of south central and eastern Kentucky along its 55.6 -mile path, which severely 8
impacted Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell Counties; and 9
WHEREAS, th is devastating storm left 19 Kentuckians dead, many others 10
hospitalized, and tens of thousands of homes and businesses without vital power due to 11
extensive damage to electric distribution and transmission infrastructure, including 12
downed poles, broken cond uctors, damaged substations, and destroyed transmission 13
structures; and 14
WHEREAS, this was the deadliest tornado to ever be reported in the region; and 15
WHEREAS, the storm directly hit South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative's 16
headquarters in Somerset, ren dering its supervisory control and data acquisition system 17
and outage management system inoperable and heavily damaging its distribution system; 18
and 19
WHEREAS, in total, dozens of distribution substations and electric circuits were 20
severely impacted at the p eak of the storm, while hundreds of power poles were broken 21
and many miles of power line were knocked down; and 22
WHEREAS, crews from electric cooperatives and mutual -aid partners immediately 23
mobilized, deploying skilled line and substation personnel through out the region, and 24
organized into multiple crews who tirelessly worked around the clock, often in darkness, 25
severe weather, and debris -filled environments, putting public safety and community 26
recovery ahead of their own comfort and rest; and 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2088
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WHEREAS, by May 19, 2025, despite extreme fatigue and dangerous conditions, 1
crews fully restored life-saving electricity to the residents impacted by this terrible storm, 2
as well as to the businesses and manufacturing companies that support those 3
communities; and 4
WHEREAS, linemen, substation technicians, engineers, dispatchers, and support 5
staff selflessly devoted several thousand man -hours to restore emergency power during 6
this brief but critical time period alone; and 7
WHEREAS, rural electric cooperative utility workers' skill, courage, teamwork, and 8
unwavering commitment exemplifies the highest ideals of public service and the 9
cooperative spirit upon which Kentucky's electric system is built; 10
NOW, THEREFORE, 11
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives o f the General Assembly of the 12
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 13
Section 1. The members of the House of Representatives hereby express their 14
appreciation for the dedicated service, rapid deployment, and life -saving actions of the 15
rural electric cooperative utility workers during and after the deadly storm on May 16, 16
2025. 17
Section 2. When the House of Representatives adjourns this day, it does so in 18
honor of the service of Kentucky's rural electric cooperatives' utility workers. 19
Section 3. The Clerk of the H ouse of Representatives is directed to transmit a 20
copy of this Resolution to Representative Derek Lewis for delivery to East Kentucky 21
Power Cooperative, Big Rivers Electric Corporation, and Tennessee Valley Authority 22
and their owner-member rural electric cooperatives. 23