More than 70 people are feared dead after a catastrophic series of tornadoes ripped through Kentucky and other states late Friday and early Saturday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
“It’s devastating,” Beshear told a news conference early Saturday, adding that he had declared a state of emergency and activated 181 guardsmen from the National Guard.
“We believe our death toll from this event is north of 70 Kentuckians and may end of exceeding 100 before the day is done ,” he said. “We will make it through this,” he added. “We will rebuild, we are strong, resilient people.”
Beshear said four tornadoes, one of which stayed on the ground for more than 200 miles after touching down, had swept through the state. Almost 60,000 Kentuckians had been left without power, he said.
The city of Mayfield had been “devastated,” he said, adding that a roof collapse at a candle factory had “resulted in mass casualties.”
He later tweeted a letter he sent to President Joe Biden asking for “an immediate federal emergency declaration.”
Elsewhere, one person was dead and five were seriously injured when an apparent tornado struck the Monette Manor Nursing Home in Monette, Arkansas, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day said. He initially said two people had died.
At the same news conference, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said the storm represented a significant massive disaster event.
“All state resources are being brought to bear,” he said, adding that “it’ll be daybreak before we even realize the full magnitude of this event.”
Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky issued statements following the devastating event.
“As I continue to get reports from my staff, local and state officials, we will work with the entire Kentucky federal delegation to support Governor Andy Beshear’s requests for federal assistance in order to aid these hard-hit communities with the funding and resources they need to rebuild,” McConnell said.
“Our hearts are broken for all those suffering from last night’s terrible storms,” Paul said.
Tornado warnings issued Friday also covered parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. Nearly 180,000 utility customers in those five states were without power early Saturday.
On Saturday morning, Biden said he had been briefed “on the devastating tornadoes across the central U.S.”
“We’re working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue,” Biden tweeted. “To lose a loved one in a storm like this is an unimaginable tragedy.”
Amazon Warehouse collapsed
In Edwardsville, Illinois, outside St. Louis, there were multiple injuries and at least one death after a 100-foot portion of a wall partially collapsed at an Amazon facility, officials with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Edwardsville Fire Department said. which building it was, nor how many people were believed to be trapped inside.
He added that it was going to be a “long process” to determine exactly what had happened.
Calling it a “devastating tragedy,” Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said the company offered its “thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted.”
“Our focus is on supporting our employees and partners,” he added.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker activated the state’s Emergency Operations
enter as a result of the severe weather. There have been multiple, unconfirmed reports of tornadoes, the emergency management agency said.
Damage in Tennessee, Missouri
A possible tornado also struck in Samburg, Tennessee, where the local fire department was severely damaged, the Obion County Sheriff’s Office said. It wasn’t clear if there were injuries.
Earlier, the National Weather Service also issued a tornado emergency for the Kentucky cities of Madisonville, Earlington and Nortonville. Such a designation signifies that “severe threat to human life is imminent,” catastrophic damage is likely, or that there’s reliable information that a tornado touched down.
In Missouri, two people were hospitalized, including one with “very criti
al injuries,” and a third person was injured following structural collapses, said Kyle Gaines with the St. Charles County Ambulance District.
That front was expected to strengthen as it moves over the Great Lakes region Saturday and brings with it heavy snowfall and blustery winds, federal forecasters said.
Lignia governor’s Office of Emergency Services said residents up and down the state should prepare for “widespread moderate to heavy rain, mountain snow, gusty winds, and thunderstorms” through at least Tuesday.
