Kentucky tornado: Rescuers search for survivors of deadly inclement weather across multiple states
More than 80 feared people died following reports of tornadoes late Friday and early Saturday in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
In Kentucky alone, the death toll could reach more than 70, Governor Andy Beshear said Saturday, calling it “one of the hardest nights” in state history.
Destroyed buildings, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles littered the streets of hard-hit areas, prompting rescuers to try to reach communities without electricity telephone or power lines become more difficult after a collision.
“This is the deadliest tornado in the history of our state,” Beshear said at a news conference. “The level of devastation is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Arkansas officials reported two weather-related deaths; Tennessee has confirmed four; Illinois reported six; and Missouri two. Kentucky has not released an official death toll, but it is believed to be one of the hardest-hit states.
Family members looking for unaccounted people
Beshear visited some of the affected areas on Saturday to assess the damage. In his father’s hometown of Dawson Springs, which has a population of about 2,700, a number remains unaccounted for.
“A block away from my grandparents’ house, there weren’t any houses standing and we didn’t know where all those people were,” Beshear said.
“There’s at least 15 feet of metal with cars on it, tanks of corrosive chemicals. It would be a miracle if someone was alive in there,” Beshear said. “The city center is completely devastated.”
Some family members are still looking for relatives who used to work at the candle factory.
Paige Tingle, who is looking for her mother-in-law, Jill Monroe, says time is of the essence. The last time her family spoke to her, she was in the bathroom in a safe haven,” Tingle said Saturday.
“She [Monroe] she has a lung problem, she has a heart problem,” Tingle said. We have to find her. ”
The family checked local hospitals but they could not find her. Calls to her phone went unanswered.
Ivy Williams was at the Mayfield site on Saturday looking for his wife of more than 30 years, Janine Williams, who was at the factory.
“I hope she’s somewhere safe,” Williams said tearfully. “Please call me… I’m looking for you, baby.” He heard the news for the last time before the tornado hit, and was shocked to find the building was completely leveled when he arrived on the scene.
First responders pulled people out of the rubble – some of them alive, Michael Gordon told CNN Saturday from the scene.
“It’s hard to say,” said Gordon.
The state deployed the National Guard to conduct door-to-door searches, clear road debris, and deliver generators to shelters and hospitals.
The Governor urged people in affected communities to still have the right to stay off the roads.
“Let’s get our first responders out,” he said. “Don’t go to these areas to see. We need to make sure the people doing this work can do it as quickly as possible,” he said. “.
He also begged those who could donate blood.
“We’ve been pretty short with Covid out there. We’re going to have a lot of deaths, but we’re also going to have a lot of injuries,” he said..
Kentucky State Police Lieutenant Dean Patterson said the destruction was unlike anything he had seen before. And the rescue and recovery effort will come with challenges.
“It’s a very thorough and slow process, because you have to be careful when dealing with too much debris and too many unknowns. One wrong move and you can actually do more damage, so it’s a methodically slow process. A lot of people are out there, doing everything they can to hopefully find some survivors in that ravaged area.”
A hospital in Paducah, Kentucky, about 27 miles north of Mayfield, is treating tornado victims. Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital spokeswoman Nanette Bentley said the majority of them suffered chemical burns, long-bone injuries and crushing injuries.
National Weather Service Chief of Meteorology John Gordon told a press conference in Kentucky that the tornado event was a “worst-case scenario”.
“The air is warm in the cold season, at midnight – it amazes me to see what happened,” he said. “Look at the images on your screen. Houses, completely hit by cars, eighteen-wheelers thrown 30 feet moving NW – that takes a lot of force.”
Deaths reported in several other states
In addition to Kentucky, deadly devastation was also reported in Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee.
In Monette, northeastern Arkansas, at least one person was killed at a nursing home that suffered tornado damage, Mayor Bob Blankenship said. A second person died after the storm hit a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, officials said.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson told CNN: “At this point, I have confirmed two deaths. One is in Monette at a nursing home and the other in Leachville at a store that was attacked to death. people”.
Officials confirmed two storm-related deaths in Missouri.
Governor Mike Parson’s office said: “In St. Charles County, one woman was killed at home and two others were hospitalized. In Pemiscot County, a young child was killed at home and at least nine people were hospitalized. taken to the hospital,” said Governor Mike Parson’s office. release.
Tennessee is reporting a total of four weather-related deaths from extreme weather. Tennessee Emergency Management spokesman Dean Flener said two people were in Lake County, one in Obion County and one in Shelby County.
CNN’s Paul P. Murphy, Nadia Romero, Keith Allen, Brandon Miller, Joe Sutton, Dave Hennen, Haley Brink, Dave Alsup, Travis Caldwell, Laura Studley, DJ Judd, Andy Rose, Sharif Paget and Carma Hassan contributed to the newspaper. this fox.
.
