Survivors of the deadly tornadoes that struck parts of Kentucky continue to sift through the rubble as widespread cleanup efforts were underway in Laurel County, about 90 miles south of Lexington.

The tornadoes, which swept through the area Friday night, killed 18 people in Kentucky and left several others critically injured.

The storms that hit Kentucky came from a weather system responsible for seven deaths in Missouri and two in northern Virginia, authorities said, according to the Associated Press. The system also resulted in tornadoes in Wisconsin and extreme heat in Texas. Parts of Illinois — including Chicago — saw a cloud of dust on an otherwise sunny day, AP reported.

In Laurel County, Travis Whitaker’s house on Hawkins Road, a family home for more than 30 years, was reduced to rubble. Whitaker, along with his wife, a daughter and four dogs, took cover in a bathtub when they received the tornado warning.

“It came across my house that way. Basically, the other side of that wall is where the bathroom is, and you could hear it pulling the wood, the ceiling, everything just a tearing sound,” he said.

After the tornado passed, Whitaker checked on his neighbor, Judy Foister. Foister’s son, Shane, said she had taken cover under her bed when Whitaker found her.

“Somehow my mother lived through that. I really don’t know how. I don’t know how,” Shane Foister said.

Whitaker had heard a second tornado was coming so Judy Foister, Whitaker’s family and their pets stayed in her bathroom, which was still standing. Fortunately, the second tornado never came.

“I don’t know how they lived, looking at his house. I guess that’s something to be thankful for,” Shane Foister said.

Both houses were a total loss, but some items remained untouched, like his late father’s guitar.

“It’s sitting in there right next to a bunch of things that got destroyed,” he said.

The families are safe and staying with relatives nearby, but the emotional healing from the trauma will take time.

“Since Friday night, I’ve slept like eight hours… just been working nonstop trying to save as much stuff as possible. I’ve not had time to think,” Whitaker said.

Also in Laurel County, Jeff Wyatt said he, his wife and two of their children scarcely made it to safety in a hallway while the roof and family room were ripped away, according to AP. On Sunday, the family returned to collect photos and other keepsakes.

“It happened so fast,” said Wyatt, 54, according to AP. “If we would have been there 10 seconds longer, we would have been gone with the family room.”

Several volunteers stopped by homes to offer help with cleanup and supplies for families in need.