On May 16, a devastating EF-4 tornado with winds exceeding 170 mph ripped through Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel counties in Kentucky, killing at least 27 and destroying countless homes. Among the survivors were Paul and Gail Cline, a married couple in their 60s, whose extraordinary story has touched the nation.
As the storm collapsed their home, the pair clung tightly to each other. Both lost an arm in the process, but their will to survive — and their love — endured. Rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, they faced a long, uncertain recovery.
Last week brought a powerful milestone: Paul and Gail were finally reunited in the hospital. After days on a ventilator, Gail’s first words were to her husband — “I love you.” Relatives described the moment as “emotional in the best way,” as Gail smiled through pain while gazing at Paul.
Their son, Jeff, praised neighbors, first responders, and medical staff as “the real heroes in capes” who made their survival possible.
Though the Clines still face a long journey of healing, their resilience has become a national symbol of love, faith, and hope.
