Tornado Outbreak Strikes Missouri & Kentucky — Convoy Is Responding
June 6, 2025 | 10 a.m.
On May 16, an EF-3 tornado tore through St. Louis, Missouri, leaving buildings in rubble, trees uprooted, vehicles destroyed, and five people dead. Convoy of Hope was on the ground in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and we are still there.
There is a long road of recovery ahead for St. Louis residents. The storms caused an estimated $1 billion in destruction. Of the 5,000 structures damaged, nearly 200 buildings are slated for demolition — the damage so severe that they need to be completely rebuilt.
Convoy is on the ground in the hardest-hit areas, distributing non-perishable food items and essential supplies to restore hope and stability.
May 27, 2025 | 1:28 p.m.
Working alongside local volunteers, Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team has continued cleanup operations in London, Kentucky. More than 170 volunteers have served over 1,000 hours, bringing hope to the community as it recovers.
Across the multiple states affected by the May 16 storm system, Convoy of Hope has distributed more than 400,000 pounds of essential relief supplies and served over 22,000 survivors. And as these communities continue their journey to recovery, our team remains committed to providing help and hope where it’s needed most.
May 21, 2025 | 3:43 p.m.
Through mobile and drive-thru distribution, families in Missouri and Kentucky are receiving the help they need — food, water, and emergency supplies — but also a message: You are not forgotten. We see you. And hope is here.
Check out our latest video update above.
May 19, 2025 | 3:28 p.m.
“It was one of those things where I felt like I was in a movie. It was so surreal,” said Adrienne Stratton, a St. Louis resident, in the aftermath of the tornado that devastated parts of the city.
The storm caused widespread damage across metropolitan St. Louis, throwing uprooted trees onto houses and cars, crumbling buildings, and ripping stoplights from their poles.
At Influence Church, staff members were meeting at one of their sites when the sky turned ominous. To avoid the rain, they ended their meeting early. Just minutes after they left, the tornado ripped through the neighborhood and caused extensive damage to the church.
Despite this damage, Influence is helping their community. In partnership with Convoy of Hope, who was on the ground the next morning, the church is distributing relief supplies to people in desperate need.
The same storm system spawned several damaging tornadoes in Kentucky. There, Convoy is distributing relief supplies in Laurel County and Somerset. With both drive-thru and mobile distributions, volunteers and Convoy team members are ensuring food, water, hygiene supplies, and more are getting into the hands of those who need them most.
May 18, 2025 | 7:27 p.m.
Here is the latest on our response:
- • Convoy of Hope has served more than 10,000 people and distributed more than 195,000 pounds of relief supplies in response to the storms that occurred Friday evening.
- • In London, Kentucky, residents received much-needed resources to aid in their recovery through both mobile and drive-thru distributions. Convoy distributed tarps, totes, contractor bags, rakes, and other supplies to hundreds of families today.
- • Meanwhile, additional shipments of essential supplies arrived in the St. Louis area today and will be distributed to partners across the region in the coming days.
- • In collaboration with first responders in Laurel County, Kentucky, we are supplying solar-powered generators to provide temporary power until service is fully restored.
Survivors continue to sift through the rubble this weekend, assessing the damage done to their homes and communities. As they do so, they can know Convoy of Hope will be there to help them back on their feet.
May 17, 2025 | 10:12 p.m.
The same storm system that produced two damaging tornadoes in metropolitan St. Louis moved through Kentucky and spawned what were likely additional strong tornadoes, costing at least 14 people their lives and leaving a path of destruction.
Convoy of Hope is en route to the area with additional relief supplies to help families in need. The devastation is overwhelming. Homes are destroyed, cars are unrecognizable, and search and rescue is still underway.
It is not uncommon for a storm system to produce tornadoes across multiple states. That’s why Convoy of Hope is ready to respond whenever and wherever needed.
May 16, 2025 | 9:10 p.m.
Earlier today, at least two confirmed tornadoes ripped through metropolitan St. Louis, killing five people and causing widespread damage. Thousands are without power. Photos show trees ripped from their roots, debris strewn through streets, cars with shattered windshields, and buildings missing chunks or completely in rubble. Hail the size of baseballs punched through roofs.
Photo above: A man sits in a chair after a severe storm moved through St. Louis, Missouri, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
“The skies turned green,” Rachel, a resident of Clayton, Missouri — a St. Louis suburb — told Fox Weather. “The winds started whipping. Then, it fell silent, and then you heard what sounded like a train, and everything started falling.”
Convoy of Hope will land in the impacted area tomorrow with relief supplies — food, water, tarps, totes, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and more.
