As a storm system approached Jackson, in Southeastern Kentucky, on May 16, a few individuals agreed to work double shifts to make sure timely warnings continued during the overnight hours, said Tom Fahy, legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization.

Preliminary storm surveys from the National Weather Service have confirmed significant tornado damage across multiple Kentucky counties following the recent severe weather outbreak.

A deadly severe weather outbreak spawned at least one tornado in 22 states from May 15-21. Among the hardest-hit states were Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

Additionally, there was no evidence that tornado sirens in the area had been deactivated by the Trump administration's budget cuts — if there was, the people affected by the storm certainly would have noted that fact in interviews.

Did alerts go out? What type of alerts did people receive? National Weather Service and others have said the Jackson office was staffed Friday night despite staffing shortages.

Areas in Laurel County that were impacted by a tornado late May 16 will be evacuated during the evening hours of May 20 ahead of more severe storms are set to move into the area, state and local officials announce during a news conference.

Cuts to National Weather Service tested Kentucky office staffing ahead of deadly tornadoes - Deadly tornadoes ripped across Kentucky on Friday, killing at least 18 people

The office in Jackson, Ky., is one of several left without an overnight forecaster after hundreds of jobs were recently cut from the National Weather Service.

One week after a deadly EF-4 tornado hit Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel counties, the National Weather Service has updated the storm’s path.