The National Weather Service office in Louisville has confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down in Barren County during last week’s weather event that brought high winds, excessive rainfall and at least eight other tornadoes to Kentucky.

Chase Graham, a meteorologist at NWS Louisville, told the Daily News the tornado touched down in northeast Barren County about three and a half miles east of Cave City near the Griderville community.

Graham said the tornado crossed U.S. 31-E and moved northeast for nearly five miles and lifted just before crossing into Hart County.

He said damage surveyors with NWS observed some trees that were uprooted and had some snapped branches, along with some barns that were damaged as well.

“The most significant damage that we saw was we had … two houses that the roof was taken off of,” Graham said. “One of those houses was actually right on 31-E.”

Graham said as of Wednesday, this is the only confirmed tornado in the region. Surveyors were in southern Warren County near Woodburn and Alvaton as well, and observed straight-line wind damage to some barns.

The tornado in Barren County was part of a larger storm system that brought tornadoes and severe weather to the southeastern United States.

Of the eight confirmed tornadoes in Kentucky, Graham said the strongest was an EF-3 that struck the eastern side of Louisville near Jeffersontown.

Barren County Emergency Management Director Garland Gilliam told the Daily News that along with the two homes that received roof damage, two others saw minor damage to siding and rooftops.

He said the only injury reported due to the tornado was a teenage girl whose arm was broken. No injuries have been reported due to flooding.

“We got lucky,” Gilliam said. “Even though it was confirmed, it was just four houses that we had to deal with.”

District 3 of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported Wednesday morning four remaining closures in Barren County due to flooding. Gilliam said damage to roads is being observed as flood waters recede.

“Just like in February, we’re finding where roads are washed away and there’s nothing there,” he said, adding that concrete barriers have been placed on impassable roads.

Only one sinkhole has been observed as well, though Gilliam said it’s only “about the size of a five gallon bucket.”

Personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in Barren County conducting assessments on tornado damage. In the next few days FEMA will begin inspecting roadway damage as well, something Gilliam said will take some time.

“Those roads that we’ve put the concrete barricades in, (they) may be there for a couple weeks,” he said. “We’re we’re moving as quick as we can, trying as hard as we can, but it takes a little time.”

Warren County

Officials in Bowling Green and Warren County governments are urging those affected by flooding to make use of resources available. Personnel from the American Red Cross have been set up at Michael O. Buchanon Park, 9222 Nashville Road, and are providing overnight shelter for flood victims along with case management services.

Bowling Green City Manager Jeff Meisel told the Daily News that the wheels are moving locally to access aid from FEMA, although a presidential disaster declaration has not yet been issued.

“We’re almost halfway there with trying to get (damage assessments) together,” Meisel said. “We’ll be submitting those to the governor … and hopefully we get that declaration that triggers FEMA to come in.”

Warren County Deputy Judge-Executive Bryan Downing encouraged residents to self report damage.

“It’s incredibly important for people, if they haven’t already, to report any damages,” he said. Damage reports can be done on city and county governments’ websites.

Waters are receding in some areas. Downing said the water line in Barren River has decreased “substantially,” but said some areas in the county are still experiencing flooding.

KYTC reported five road closures in Warren County Wednesday morning. Sixteen city roads, including Cave Mill Road, remain closed.

KYTC stated that the southbound on- and off-ramps on Interstate 165 at Exit 26 have reopened, but the northbound ramps remain closed.