Talk:2012 West Liberty tornado

Good article status nominee

Hi reader,

In a few days, I'm planning to correct what's possible for this article to receive good article status. Please let me know through a reply what criteria is needed.

Thank you for taking your time. Eranston (talk) 20:50, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

@Lightbulb Noob @GrenadinesDes @StefenTower I'm actually going to correct everything possible today. Let me know what I missed in case I did. A checklist would be nice. Eranston (talk) 12:40, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

GA review

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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This review is transcluded from Talk:2012 West Liberty tornado/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Nominator: Eranston (talk · contribs) 12:45, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

Reviewer: Lightbulb Noob (talk · contribs) 18:55, 2 July 2026 (UTC)

Alright, time to do this Lightbulb Noob (talk) 18:55, 2 July 2026 (UTC)

Tornado summary is finished. Sharkeston (talk) 10:20, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Damage and casualties too. Sharkeston (talk) 10:58, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, grammar, and understandability): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable, as shown by a source spot-check.

   a (reference section): b (inline citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

6. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have non-free use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

Prose

Tornado summary

• "South-southwest of the community along Opossum Hollow Road, the tornado struck several residences. One house was completely leveled at EF3 intensity, totally destroying most of the home except for the basement." --> South-southwest of the community along Opossum Hollow Road, the tornado struck several residences, with one home being nearly completely destroyed, leaving only the basement remaining.
• "After crossing over US 460, the tornado exited Menifee County after killing two people." --> After crossing over US 460, the tornado exited Menifee County where it killed two people.
• "One additional but indirect fatality" --> An additional but indirect fatality
• "Approximately $2,000,000 (2012 USD) in damages were inflicted within this county." --> Approximately $2,000,000 (2012 USD) in damages were inflicted within Menifee County.
• "Before the tornado even formed, one minute prior at 5:38 PM EST (22:38 UTC) a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service office in Jackson for parts of Menifee, Morgan, Magoffin, Johnson, Floyd, Breathitt, Lee and Wolfe Counties." --> Prior to the tornado's formation, at 5:38 PM EST (22:38 UTC), a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service office in Jackson for parts of Menifee, Morgan, Magoffin, Johnson, Floyd, Breathitt, Lee and Wolfe Counties.
• "A Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration community center was obliterated as the tornado charged through" --> A Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration community center was demolished as the tornado tracked through the city.
• "After leaving West Liberty to the northeast, the tornado impacted a few rural residences, causing extensive but insignificant damage to them." --> This contradicts, is it extensive or insignificant?
• "At the same time, thousands of trees around the area east of West Liberty, in east-central Morgan County were downed." --> At the same time, the tornado downed thousands of trees around the area east of West Liberty, in east-central Morgan County.
• "Within the county, the tornado had estimated winds of 140 mph (230 km/h) and grew to its maximum width of 1,580 yd (0.90 mi; 1.44 km) and caused $75,000,000 (2012 USD) in damages throughout the county, the most out of six counties impacted." --> Within Morgan County, the tornado had estimated winds of 140 mph (230 km/h) and grew to its maximum width of 1,580 yd (0.90 mi; 1.44 km) and caused $75,000,000 (2012 USD) in damages throughout the county, the most out of six counties impacted.
• "Around 6:10 PM EST (23:10 UTC) the tornado exited Morgan County, and entered the regional county warning area of the National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, into Lawrence County, remaining at severe intensity." --> Around 6:10 PM EST (23:10 UTC) the tornado exited Morgan County, and entered the regional county warning area of the National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia, into Lawrence County, remaining at EF3 intensity.
• "In this section of the county," --> What section? (Sharkeston (talk) 10:18, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - Many trees were blown down in this section of western Wayne County)
• "Two people inside these modular residences were injured in the process but survived." --> Two people inside these modular residences sustained injuries but survived.
• "After traveling 2.48 mi (3.99 km) within 3 minutes," --> After traveling 2.48 mi (3.99 km) through Lawrence County in 3 minutes,
• "The tornado however upon its entry weakened down to EF1 intensity, with homes near Keaton having suffered minor roof damage and many trees that were downed." --> The tornado, upon its entry, weakened to EF1 intensity, with homes near Keaton sustaining minor roof damage and numerous trees being downed.
• "The storm re-entered Lawrence County, yet again into the county warning area of the Charleston, West Virginia office near Martha at 6:18 PM EST (23:18 UTC)." --> The storm once again entered Lawrence County and the county warning area of the Charleston, West Virginia office near Martha at 6:18 PM EST (23:18 UTC).
• "Passing to the south and also with Blaine to its north, the tornado struck the community building of the former city." --> Passing to the south of what? (Sharkeston (talk) 10:18, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - Passing to the south of Blaine, the tornado struck the community building of the former city)
• "Passing in between Blaine and Cordell to the east, the tornado would cause EF3 damage to a mobile home along Spencer Branch Road, lifting it off its CMU foundation and slamming into the adjacent hillside." --> What's to the east? (Sharkeston (talk) 10:18, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - Passing eastwards in between Blaine and Cordell, the tornado would cause EF3 damage to a mobile home along Spencer Branch Road, lifting it off its CMU foundation and slamming into the adjacent hillside)
• "The two others were juveniles that escaped the tornado unharmed, where as a neighbor nearby survived but suffered from a broken leg." --> The two others survivors were juveniles that were unharmed, and a neighbor nearby survived but suffered from a broken leg.
• "In the Clifford area, the tornado reached its peak strength as mid-range EF3 winds were estimated at 140–150 mph (230–240 km/h) towards homes that were impacted and severely damaged along Rockcastle Creek." --> In the Clifford area, the tornado reached its peak strength as mid-range EF3 winds that were estimated at 140–150 mph (230–240 km/h) struck and caused severe damage to homes along Rockcastle Creek.
• "The tornado maintained its strength as it entered Wayne County, West Virginia, into the Cabwaylingo State Forest at 6:38 PM EST (23:38 UTC). Many trees were blown down in this section of western Wayne County. Passing near Dunlow, the tornado impacted residences across varying hilltops with one sustaining major damage at low-end EF3 intensity with estimated winds of 138 mph (222 km/h), and at least three vehicles damaged as well in the vicinity." --> The tornado maintained its strength as it entered Wayne County, West Virginia, into the Cabwaylingo State Forest at 6:38 PM EST (23:38 UTC). Many trees were blown down in this section of western Wayne County. Passing near Dunlow, the tornado impacted residences across several hilltops with one home sustaining low-end EF3 damage from estimated winds of 138 mph (222 km/h), and at least three vehicles were damaged in the vicinity.
• "The tornado continued northeast, reaching the Cove Gap and Kiahsville areas and causing more damage to homes. Many residents in this area were attending a local resident's funeral at the time and away when the tornado passed through the East Lynn Lake area, which likely attributed to no reported casualties despite the damage." --> The tornado continued northeast, reaching the Cove Gap and Kiahsville areas and causing more damage to homes. Many residents in this area were attending a funeral of a local at the time and were away when the tornado passed through the East Lynn Lake area, which likely contributed to no reported casualties despite the damage.

• "The tornado then moved into Lincoln County at around 6:57 PM EST (23:57 UTC), already on a weakening trend as its intensity dropped to EF1 strength, with damage only caused to trees south of Ranger. After tracking through the county for 10 minutes, the tornado tracked a total distance of 84.99 mi (136.78 km) from its start in Menifee County, Kentucky, all the way to Lincoln County, West Virginia. After this final feat, the storm dissipated near Union Gap Road, east of Ranger, West Virginia at 7:07 PM EST (00:07 UTC) after being on the ground for 1 hour and 28 minutes." --> The tornado then moved into Lincoln County at around 6:57 PM EST (23:57 UTC), as it weakened to EF1 intensity, with damage being inflicted to trees south of Ranger. After tracking through the county for 10 minutes, the tornado dissipated near Union Gap Road, east of Ranger, West Virginia at 7:07 PM EST (00:07 UTC) after being on the ground for 1 hour and 28 minutes. The tornado tracked a total distance of 84.99 mi (136.78 km) from its start in Menifee County, Kentucky, all the way to Lincoln County, West Virginia.

Damage and casualties

• "The tornado destroyed an estimated 390 homes throughout Morgan County,[4] and caused $81.475 million (2012 USD) in damages with a huge chunk of the total monetary costs from West Liberty and the county alone, at $75 million (2012 USD)." --> The tornado destroyed an estimated 390 homes throughout Morgan County,[4] and caused $81.475 million (2012 USD) in damages with the largest portion of the total monetary costs being from West Liberty and the county alone, at $75 million (2012 USD).
• "Such structures are not able to withstand even weaker tornadoes to about EF1-strength, with winds of 110 mph (180 km/h)." --> Mobile homes are not able to withstand weaker tornadoes, including EF1-intensity tornadoes with wind speeds around 110 mph (180 km/h).
• "Mobile homes also have an increased chance of being killed, compared to other structures." --> During tornadoes, mobile homes have a higher fatality rate when compared to other structures. (Sharkeston (talk) 10:57, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - During tornadoes, these structures have a higher fatality rate when compared to other structures)

Recovery process

"*Around $30 million (2012 USD) were pledged into the city," --> "Around $30 million (2012 USD) in aid was pledged to the city," "*A few weeks later, 44 volunteers, consisting of 33 students and 11 staff from West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia," --> You can remove "West Virginia" in "West Liberty, West Virginia" (Sharkeston (talk) 11:06, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - I do not understand why I should remove the West Virginia parenthesis, it could refer to the Kentucky counterpart instead)

The Kentucky counterpart doesn't have a university. Lightbulb Noob (talk) 13:18, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Even then, I do not necessarily agree with removing the West Virginia part. Keeping makes it immediately obvious for the reader (perhaps a non-American, and for sure a West Virginian) without them hovering over. Plus, there are other West Liberties across the United States, such as West Liberty, Iowa, or West Liberty, Ohio, and West Liberty, Pennsylvania. I would let it remain for authenticity. Sharkeston (talk) 15:57, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Fair enough, I was just thinking of reducing redundancy Lightbulb Noob (talk) 16:01, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Lawsuit and corruption

• "thousands of dollars per Underwriters" --> Does "Underwriters" need to be capitalized? (Sharkeston (talk) 11:09, 17 July 2026 (UTC) - Yes, it is a shortened, nickname for Morgan County, Kentucky's insurance company, Underwriters Safety & Claims of Louisville)

  It is also coined in the citation it was mentioned [45]. Sharkeston (talk) 15:58, 17 July 2026 (UTC)

Images

• Crop "File:Delta-V of 2012 West Liberty KY EF3 Tornado.jpg" so that it does not show the GR2Analyst interface, besides that the images look good. (Sharkeston (talk) 11:10, 17 July 2026 (UTC) For whatever reason, I am not able to see a difference, despite having uploaded a cropped out version)

References

• For citations 22 and 23, hyperlink "National Weather Service" for the name of website section

Sources spot-check

• [1] - verifies info
• [3] - verifies info
• [9] - verifies info
• [17] - verifies info
• [23] - verifies info
• [28] - verifies info
• [31] - verifies info
• [36] - verifies info
• [41] - Not needed, should be removed as it doesn't cite anything said.
• [50] - verifies info

Additional comments

Good job! Lightbulb Noob (talk) 20:58, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

Why. Sharkeston (talk) 21:38, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

Why not. Lightbulb Noob (talk) 21:49, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.