KY Gov: State death toll could top 100

(KBSI/AP/FOX Weather) – Kentucky’s governor is warning the state’s death toll from an outbreak of tornadoes could top 100. Rescuers in an increasingly bleak search are picking through the splintered ruins of homes and businesses, including a candle factory that was bustling with night-shift employees when it was flattened. Authorities on Saturday reported rescuing 40 of the 110 people who were in the building at the time, but by Sunday, Gov. Andy Beshear said it would be a miracle if anyone else were rescued.

Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday that a twister had touched down for more than 200 miles in the state. Severe storms moved through the area Friday night and caused catastrophic damage across multiple states. The storms hit a candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon facility in Illinois and a nursing home in Arkansas. Officials had confirmed 36 deaths. Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess said rescue crews were using heavy equipment to move rubble at the candle factory.

Those people with a family member who was at the MVP Candle Factory or anyone missing a loved one during the severe weather are asked to go to His House Ministries at 1250 State Route 303 in Mayfield. Representatives will be there to help answer questions. They are asked to bring photo ID of missing person and any medical information they may know. This will start at 10 a.m. Sunday until dusk.

At more than 200 miles long, the storm event was the longest tornado track on record and the largest in Kentucky history.

President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration Gov. Beshear requested earlier Saturday. The declaration orders federal assistance to help with local response efforts.

The state of emergency was put into place Friday night. The National Guard has been deployed. More than 180 Kentucky National Guard members as well as the Kentucky State Police have been activated. The state also is using armories as places of refuge for Kentuckians in need of shelter.

State workers are on the ground to help clear roadways and debris.

At least 17 Kentucky counties experienced tornadic activity and debris fields. Power outages are widespread.

Gov. Beshear feared dozens were dead after the storm struck a candle factory. Multiple crews have responded to that location. A Graves County factory collapsed, trapping workers. Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess said search and rescue teams were still going through the rubble Saturday but didn’t yet have a number for how many have died. Coroners have been called to the scene of a candle factory in western Kentucky and bodies have been recovered, but she didn’t know how many.

“We’re going to lose a lot of lives in that facility,” Gov. Beshear said speaking about the factory in Graves County.

The building was flattened with cars on top of it. Debris covering emergency vehicle buildings hampered search and rescue efforts. Approximately 40 individuals had been rescued from that facility Saturday morning. One rescue worker said rescue crews had to at times crawl over casualties that to get to people who were injured.

A fire station and police station were also destroyed in the storm.

A curfew was put into place at 7 p.m. until dawn in the city limits of Mayfield and those parts of Graves County that have been directly impacted by the path of the storm.

Gov. Beshear says there will probably be up to 10 counties with Kentucky lives lost.

Anyone not an emergency responder is asked to remain out of the impacted areas so emergency responders can respond appropriately.

Search efforts at an Amazon facility in Illinois where at least six people were killed in a tornado are expected to take several days. But authorities don’t expect to find anymore survivors. The company has not said how many people were in the building not far from St. Louis when the tornado hit at 8:35 p.m. Friday. Both sides of the warehouse used to prepare orders for delivery collapsed inward and the roof caved. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford says police helped pull people from the rubble. While 45 employees survived, six people were killed. A seventh person was airlifted to a hospital.

Three people have died in severe weather in Tennessee. One person has died after an apparent tornado tore through a nursing home in Arkansas. At least one fatality has been reported in Missouri. Western Kentucky University says emergency crews are assessing storm damage. One student who lived off campus was killed.

Many people are out of power and water. Efforts are ongoing to bring water and generators to those locations.

In Hopkins County, a train carrying hazardous material was derailed by a tornado, according to Gov. Beshear.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet sent heavy equipment and operators to assist with clearing emergency routes. The Louisville Jefferson County Metro Government deployed an Incident Management Team to Mayfield to assist with response efforts.

Gov. Beshear asked the Power Assessment Team to identify special needs and sourcing to be deployed to assist that state with command and control operations.

Gov. Beshear says there will be a fund set up for people to donate to help the storm victims and recovery.

The Regional Emergency Operations Center at Mayfield is coordinating a multi-agency response to the catastrophic tornado that caused major damage in Mayfield/Graves County and areas of Marshall County.

The Governor also reminded Kentuckians of three tips for assisting impacted families:

1. First, if they are in a community that has been hit hard by the storms, and they are safe and have power, stay off the roads. “Let our first responders get to everybody. Don’t go to these areas to see it. We need to make sure those who do this work can do it at the fastest possible speed,” the Governor said.
2. Second, give blood. “We were already pretty short with COVID out there. We’re going to have a lot of deaths, but we are also going to have a lot of injuries,” the Governor said.
3. The Governor added: “Third, we have set up a single fund connected with the state that people who want to help – in Kentucky and out of the state – can give to. It is solely dedicated to helping the on-the-ground efforts going on right now and the relief efforts these families are going to need to rebuild. The Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund is now live at TeamWKYReliefFund.ky.gov.”

The Regional Emergency Operations Center at Mayfield is coordinating a multi-agency response to the catastrophic tornado that caused major damage in Mayfield/Graves County and areas of Marshall County.

Rescue and recovery efforts continue at the Candle Factor on Mayfield’s west side. As of this morning,

The EOC is continuing to refine contact numbers and drop-off locations for donations and points of contact for families in need of assistance.

Shelter

An initial assessment determined that more than 400 people are likely to seek emergency overnight shelter and many will require shelter for a week or more. Overnight there were approximately 100 in shelters overnight. There are numerous families who are staying in their homes outside of the damage corridor who do not have electricity, but may need assistance with food.

The Red Cross has established shelters at the following locations:

First United Methodist Church
100 Church St.
Hickman, KY 42050
Justin Jackson
270-254-0261

Wingo Old Cumberland Presbyterian Church
334 Lebanon St, Wingo, KY 42088
Contact: Pastor RB Mays
270-983-0333

The Way Center
449 Lebanon Street, Wingo, KY, 42088
Contact: Pastor Ike Murphy
270-564-0699

Fancy Farm Knights of Columbus Hall
20 KY Hwy 39
Fancy Farm,Kentucky, 42039,
Contact: Todd Hayden, Commissioner
270-705-1051

Lone Oak First Baptist Church
3601 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42003
Contact: Pastor Hank Garner
704-699-3473

The EOC has identified a need for a shelter with support for those with medical needs.
These shelters will also feed families impacted by the storm. Approximately 100 people are being housed in a shelter at Wingo for the night. Additional shelters will be organized as required.

His House Church has food at their facility at 1250 KY Hwy 303/Cuba Road. Contact the church for additional info.

Food and Supply Dropoff Locations

A food, supply, and cash donation dropoff has been established at Heartland Worship Center off I-24 Exit 7 in Paducah.

Donations
Individuals who have material donations or wish to donate cash may call 270-297-7772 or 270-331-0945.

Mayfield-Graves County Tornado Relief Fund
An account to handle cash donations has been set up through Independence Bank. Donations may be directed to the fund via Independence Bank, P.O. Box 9, Fancy Farm, Kentucky 42034. An electronic donation system will be organized as soon as possible.

Volunteers – General
At this time the response effort has sufficient volunteers. Volunteers should be part of an organized group that has a specific mission in mind. In the coming weeks volunteers will be needed to assist individual home and business owners with cleanup efforts. Groups who are organizing volunteers to assist with cleanup efforts in coming weeks should call 270-331-1979.

Volunteers- Medical
There is a need for a shelter directed at individuals with medial needs. Volunteers with medial skills may call 270-804-1742 to contact the health department for info.

Transportation
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 1 crews from Ballard, McCracken, Crittenden, and Livingston counties are on-site assisting the Graves County Highway Maintenance Crew with efforts to clear as many city streets and county roads as possible over the next week. They will be working closely with local utility personnel to assure the safety of crews and the public when power lines are encountered. Initially, crews will only remove material along the roadway and sidewalks. Removal of debris from private property will wait until later. Efforts are now focused on clearing streets to facilitate a damage assessment survey.

Interstate 69 has reopened to traffic at the Graves-Marshall County Line where it had been blocked by a downed cross-country power transmission line and numerous downed trees along the path of tornado damage on Friday night. This section of I-69 between Benton and Mayfield around the 34 to 37 mile marker is now open to normal traffic flow. KYTC crews will return to this section at a later date to remove debris from the right-of-way.

Traffic Signals
Due to power outages, a number of traffic signals are out of service across the region. 4-Way Stop signs have been placed at these intersections. There have been a number of crashes around the region at these locations when drivers did not exercise patience.

Family Unification
His House Church is establishing a center to assist those with missing family members. The center will collect basic information to be shared with police agencies who are attempting to more accurately determine the number of missing. His House Church is located at 1250 KY Hwy 303/Cuba Road, Mayfield, KY.

Electric Utilities
West KY RECC reports of their 30,000 members, approximately 28,000 are without electrical service. An initial assessment indicates more than 150 utility poles are damaged or destroyed. Nine of the system’s 13 sub stations are damaged or otherwise not energized. Customers may check the WKRECC Facebook page for more info. Mayfield Electric and Water has similar issues. Has 25 mutual-aid crews on-site to assist with restoring power – an effort that could take a week or more to complete. Each crew will be escorted by a local utility representative. WKRECC crews and emergency response crews will be assisting Mayfield Electric & Water on Monday. A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) survey of cross-country transmission lines indicates some significant transmission issues. Crews are mobilizing- there is no estimated repair schedule.

Water Utilities
The City of Mayfield is under a boil water order that will likely last at least a week. With use of generators to operate pumps, the city is producing water at a trickle rate to provide flow for basic use. Residents are urged to conserve water until normal water production capacity is restored.

Outside Assistance
50 National Guard members are on-site to assist law enforcement with security functions. There is a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew for Mayfield and parts of Graves County impacted by the tornado.

Medical Services
Jackson Purchase Median Center is at capacity. Additional ambulances will be stationed at the hospital to assist with patient transfers should the need arise.

Use of Generators
Homeowners using generators should be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep generators away from windows and doors. Use caution when fueling to avoid the opportunity for fire. Use caution to prevent generators from back feeding along power lines. Homeowners should also be aware of the hazards associated with the use of unvented space heaters.

Additional Assistance
Counseling teams will be available for families of victims and those who are in need of trauma counseling due to their experiences during the tornado. A mechanism for contacting the teams is being developed.

Medication and Package Deliveries
Fed Ex and UPS have deliveries of medication and other packages that would normally go to addresses within the damage corridor. They will set up a pick-up location at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds and notify the intended recipient through their electronic notification system as packages arrive on-site.

The Regional EOC anticipates an update sometime Sunday.

Shelter
An initial assessment determined that more than 400 people are likely to seek emergency overnight shelter and many will require shelter for a week or more.

The Red Cross has established shelters at the following locations:

First United Methodist Church
100 Church St.
Hickman, KY 42050
Justin Jackson
270-254-0261

Wingo Old Cumberland Presbyterian Church
334 Lebanon St, Wingo, KY 42088
Contact: Pastor RB Mays
270-983-0333

The Way Center
449 Lebanon Street, Wingo, KY, 42088
Contact: Pastor Ike Murphy
270-564-0699

(The Wingo Old Cumberland Presbyterian church and The Way are next door to each other and are sharing resources)

Fancy Farm Knights of Columbus Hall
20 KY Hwy 39
Fancy Farm,Kentucky, 42039,
Contact: Todd Hayden, Commissioner
270-705-1051

Lone Oak First Baptist Church
3601 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42003
Contact: Pastor Hank Garner
704-699-3473

These shelters will also feed families impacted by the storm. Approximately 100 people are being housed in a shelter at Wingo for the night. Additional shelters will be organized as required.

His House Church has food at their facility at 1250 KY Hwy 303, Cuba Road. They will also be handing out food at 5th and Broadway in Mayfield starting about 4 p.m., CST, today. Contact the church for additional info.

Food and Supply Dropoff Locations
A food, supply, and cash donation dropoff has been extablished at the McCracken County Emergency Management Office at 3700 Coleman Road, Paducah, KY. It will be open until 6 p.m., CST, tonight, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., CST, on Sunday, December 12. This McCracken County dropoff center may be extended into next week, if needed.

The Governor’s Office’s Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, announced at Saturday’s press conference in Mayfield. More details to come.

Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations at http://give.helpsalvationarmy.org. The Salvation Army uses 100% of all disaster donations to support disaster relief.

Other donations:

The Johnson Bar, 133 S. 3rd St. in Paducah, Ky. is collecting the following items from 9 am to 5 pm Saturday. For all drop off donations, please use the side entrance located on Kentucky Avenue.

After speaking with first responders, this is what they immediately need:

• Flash Lights
• Head Lamps
• Batteries
• Work/Ultility Gloves
• Water

For those affected:

• New Socks
• New Undergarments
• Blankets
• Coats
• Warm clothes
• Shoes
• Toiletry Items

Heartland Church ACTS Ministry is accepting donations for those affected by the deadly tornado from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. Please keep donations specifically to this list right now.

Donations needed:

• New Socks
• New Undergarments
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Towels
• Sheets
• Coats
• Warm clothes
• Shoes
• Toiletry Items
• Food
• Water

Donations are accepted at Heartland Church ACTS Ministry donation shed.

ACE Compressors, 245 Kentex Dr. Mayfield is accepting water and non-perishable items.

Volunteer opportunity:

Emergency Management is using Catalyst Church of Mayfield, 114 Kings Drive, as an emergency hub for volunteers and coordinating efforts to bus volunteers to areas of need. Donations of lights are appreciated. Got generators? Call Justin Carrico at 270-705-4199.

 

Unusually warm temperatures and a storm system moving east linked to the La Nina weather pattern helped create the conditions necessary for the monstrous tornadoes and severe weather that tore through parts of the the Midwest and South. Tornadoes in December are unusual, but not unheard of. Scientists say figuring out how climate change is affecting the frequency of tornadoes is complicated and their understanding is still evolving. Still, they say the atmospheric conditions that give rise to such outbreaks — including rising temperatures, moisture, and wind shear — are intensifying as the planet warms.