Kentucky tornadoes: What you need to know about the deaths, destruction
A string of tornadoes and strong storms tore through parts of Western Kentucky late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving dozens dead and many more injured and displaced.
The first reports of tornadoes in the Mayfield area came in at roughly 10 p.m. Friday. First responders and rescue units have been going through the debris and damage since, revealing more and more just how deadly the storm was.
Here’s the latest of what we know about the status of the Commonwealth:
KY DEATH TOLL RISING
In his latest press conference at 11 a.m. Saturday, Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll across the state now stands at over 70. He also said that number could climb to upwards of 100 while crews continue to search for victims.
The coroner in Muhlenberg County reported 11 deaths in the county alone.
Beshear initially reported that 50 Kentuckians were killed in his initial press conference at 5 a.m. Saturday. A final and official death toll likely won’t come out for quite some time due to the extensive damage.
BIDEN HELPS KENTUCKY
President Joseph Biden declared a federal state of emergency Saturday afternoon in parts of Kentucky devastated by deadly tornadoes and ordered federal assistance for the embattled state.
Biden’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate Kentuckians’ hardship and suffering and to provide assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety.
MAYFIELD FACTORY HIT HARD
A candle factory was directly hit by a tornado Friday night, and Beshear said the largest loss of life from the storm will come from the factory.
Beshear reported that 110 people were inside the factory when it was hit by a tornado. Since then 40 people have been rescued, leaving 70 unaccounted for. The last rescue attempt was at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.
“We’re gonna lose a lot of lives in that facility,” Beshear said. “I pray that there will be another rescue… I think the largest loss of life in this tornado event is and will be there.”
TAYLOR COUNTY WOMAN DEAD
A 42-year-old Taylor County woman died Saturday morning after a tornado tore through her mobile home on Quisenberry Road.
Twelve others were taken to a hospital and 70 homes in the area were destroyed or heavily damaged.
WKU CANCELS COMMENCEMENT
Western Kentucky University has canceled its commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday after a tornado struck Bowling Green and Warren County at approximately 1 a.m local time.
Officer Ronnie Ward, spokesman for the city police department, told the Herald-Leader they’re currently in rescue mode after widespread damage. It was previously reported that a WKU student died from the storm, but WKU later corrected itself and said a relative of a WKU student perished instead.
The National Weather Service in Louisville said an EF3 tornado with wind speeds up to 150 miles per hour hit Bowling Green.
DISTRICT COURT JUDGE AMONG DEAD FROM TORNADO
Brian Crick, a district judge for McLean and Muhlenberg counties, died Saturday in the tornadoes that devastated Western Kentucky.
DEADLY TORNADO COULD SET RECORD
The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management reported the tornado that struck Mayfield and Western Kentucky traveled 223 miles. If confirmed by the National Weather Service, that would break a 96-year-old record for the longest continuous distance traveled by a tornado.
BOYLE COUNTY DAMAGED
Three t-hangars and several airplanes were destroyed by a tornado that hit the Danville-Boyle County Airport at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday. No one was injured but other parts of the town were damaged as well.
LEXINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO GRAVES COUNTY
The Lexington Fire Department is sending 10 personnel and four apparatus to western Kentucky to assist with rescue efforts. The units are expected to arrive in Graves County Saturday afternoon.
KENTUCKY POLITICIANS SHOW SUPPORT
Kentucky politicians and people around the world continue to offer their condolences and support as more details are revealed about the deadly storm that destroyed parts of Kentucky.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday he will work with the entire Kentucky federal delegation to support Gov. Andy Beshear’s request for federal assistance “in order to aid these hard-hit communities with the funding and resources they need to rebuild.”
WHERE THIS STORM RANKS ALL-TIME
With reports of over 70 casualties initially, the overnight storm in Kentucky could end up being one of the deadliest storms to ever strike Kentucky, possibly the United States.
WANT TO HELP?
There are many ways to help the survivors of the deadly tornadoes. Click this link to view all the ways to help.
This story was originally published December 11, 2021 at 1:18 PM.
