Paul and Gail Cline didn’t let go — not even when a tornado tore through their Kentucky home and ripped away each of their opposite arms.
Now in their 60s, the couple is hospitalized, fighting to survive. Last Friday, a deadly tornado devastated Laurel County, Kentucky, killing 19 and leveling homes. Despite the destruction, recovery efforts continue with help from first responders, volunteers, and students.
During the storm, Paul and Gail held onto each other in their bedroom. Their nieces, Taylor Baker and Brandy Bowman, say the tornado’s force was so strong it tore their arms off while they clung together. A neighbor heard their screams and pulled them from the rubble.
Gail is in critical condition, on life support with severe injuries. Paul, who has dementia, remains in shock. “All I can’t get out of my head is how terrified they must have been,” said Baker.
Their home — in the family for generations — is now in ruins. Yet amid the wreckage, some things remain eerily untouched, like a robe in their bedroom. Their dog, Sadie, was later found lying in the debris, waiting faithfully.
Baker and Bowman remember childhoods spent in the now-destroyed house. As they grieve, they’re raising funds to support the Clines’ recovery, which will be long and costly.
“They held onto each other through the storm,” their family says. “And they’ll keep holding on.”
Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 19 deaths and urged prayers for survivors still hospitalized and those affected across the state.