The day after tornadoes ravaged western Kentucky, the governor is now saying at least 80 people are dead, and there are likely more.Gov. Andy Beshear has continued to say that he expects the death toll to exceed 100.On Face the Nation on Sunday, Beshear said among the deaths are two children: A 3-year-old from Graves County and a 5-year-old from Muhlenberg County.And as the search for people continues, Beshear said Sunday they are hoping for miracles.”A lot of this is going through the blocks and the rubble — if you can reach it — and trying to see if there are people there dead or alive,” Beshear said.On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration for the state in response to the deadly tornadoes.The city of Mayfield, Kentucky was hit particularly hard, including a candle manufacturing factory that was operating at the time the twister hit. There were 110 people in the building at the time that it was nearly collapsed by the tornado. Officials confirmed Sunday that eight people died in the candle factory and eight remain unaccounted for. While officials initially said 40 of 110 workers at Mayfield Consumer Products had been rescued, spokesman Bob Ferguson said more than 90 people had now been located.While eight remained missing, there was hope they might be OK.”Many of the employees were gathered in the tornado shelter and after the storm was over they left the plant and went to their homes,” he said. “With the power out and no landline they were hard to reach initially. We’re hoping to find more of those eight unaccounted as we try their home residences.”The company has updated its website with a statement on the victims and a tornado fund has been set up.”Our company is family-owned and our employees, some who have worked with us for many years, are cherished. We’re immediately establishing an emergency fund to assist our employees and their families.” Here’s how you can help the victims of the tornadoes The tornado that ravaged multiple Kentucky counties also killed people in Arkansas. The supercell had been weakening and strengthening as it has moved throughout the night and morning. Beshear said the tornado that hit Mayfield was a tornado that touched down and stayed on the ground for 227 miles.That tornado started in the northeastern corner of Arkansas and followed a northeastern path from there that took it through parts of Missouri and Tennessee before slashing into more than 200 miles of Kentucky. That single tornado is likely to eclipse the track of the current record-holding 1925 tri-state tornado as the longest tornado in terms of touchdown time in the entire nation’s history.There were two more tornadoes reported very close to each other south of the tornado that severely hit Mayfield.The governor declared a state of emergency after 1 a.m. Saturday and activated the Kentucky National Guard and Kentucky State Police to help the areas affected. Power outages are also beginning to climb across the western Kentucky area, according to Beshear. Beshear predicted loss of life in at least five Kentucky counties.
The day after tornadoes ravaged western Kentucky, the governor is now saying at least 80 people are dead, and there are likely more.
Gov. Andy Beshear has continued to say that he expects the death toll to exceed 100.
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On Face the Nation on Sunday, Beshear said among the deaths are two children: A 3-year-old from Graves County and a 5-year-old from Muhlenberg County.
And as the search for people continues, Beshear said Sunday they are hoping for miracles.
“A lot of this is going through the blocks and the rubble — if you can reach it — and trying to see if there are people there dead or alive,” Beshear said.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration for the state in response to the deadly tornadoes.
The city of Mayfield, Kentucky was hit particularly hard, including a candle manufacturing factory that was operating at the time the twister hit. There were 110 people in the building at the time that it was nearly collapsed by the tornado.
Officials confirmed Sunday that eight people died in the candle factory and eight remain unaccounted for.
While officials initially said 40 of 110 workers at Mayfield Consumer Products had been rescued, spokesman Bob Ferguson said more than 90 people had now been located.
While eight remained missing, there was hope they might be OK.
“Many of the employees were gathered in the tornado shelter and after the storm was over they left the plant and went to their homes,” he said. “With the power out and no landline they were hard to reach initially. We’re hoping to find more of those eight unaccounted as we try their home residences.”
The company has updated its website with a statement on the victims and a tornado fund has been set up.
“Our company is family-owned and our employees, some who have worked with us for many years, are cherished. We’re immediately establishing an emergency fund to assist our employees and their families.”
Here’s how you can help the victims of the tornadoes
The tornado that ravaged multiple Kentucky counties also killed people in Arkansas. The supercell had been weakening and strengthening as it has moved throughout the night and morning.
Beshear said the tornado that hit Mayfield was a tornado that touched down and stayed on the ground for 227 miles.
That tornado started in the northeastern corner of Arkansas and followed a northeastern path from there that took it through parts of Missouri and Tennessee before slashing into more than 200 miles of Kentucky.
That single tornado is likely to eclipse the track of the current record-holding 1925 tri-state tornado as the longest tornado in terms of touchdown time in the entire nation’s history.
There were two more tornadoes reported very close to each other south of the tornado that severely hit Mayfield.
The governor declared a state of emergency after 1 a.m. Saturday and activated the Kentucky National Guard and Kentucky State Police to help the areas affected.
Power outages are also beginning to climb across the western Kentucky area, according to Beshear.
Beshear predicted loss of life in at least five Kentucky counties.
