Neighbors in London, Kentucky are beginning the long road to recovery after their community was reduced to rubble in a tornado. The EF-4 tornado tore through an area near the London-Corbin Airport, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

In an update Tuesday afternoon, officials said the tornado that traveled between Pulaski and Laurel counties was an EF-4 with peak winds of 170 mph. It was on the ground for more than 55 miles and was nearly a mile wide at its maximum width.

The National Weather Service has completed the tornado assessment in Laurel County, Kentucky. The preliminary data showed high end EF3 damage, with low end EF4 indicators, mainly in the Sunshine Hills area of London,

Recent tornadoes have claimed the lives of at least 28 people. In response, Operation Blessing and Mercy Chefs deployed teams to the hardest-hit area of London, Kentucky.

A violent storm system that included at least one unconfirmed tornado ripped across Kentucky, destroying homes, businesses and at least one church. 18 are confirmed dead as of Saturday afternoon.

Hearts are heavy across Kentucky in the wake of deadly tornadoes that slammed the state last week, but despite that, first responders and volunteers, some of whom are high school students, continue recovery efforts to rebuild communities that were leveled by the storms.

One of the biggest concerns that we have is that you’re in this debris in high winds and it becomes a projectile, and it injures or kills somebody.”

Meteorologists with the NWS Paducah office have also confirmed several tornadoes in its region the afternoon and evening of May 16. Three tornadoes impacted western Kentucky, including an EF-3 tornado in Morganfield with winds of 155 mph, an EF-2 tornado in Allegre and an EF-2 tornado in Casky.

The National Weather Service has finished its survey of the deadly tornado that ripped through southeastern Kentucky last week.

Beshear announced during the briefing that the death toll has remained at 19, and that he hoped that number doesn't increase.