Monday, December 13, 2021
GOVERNOR SAYS THAT DEATH TOLL MAY EXCEED 100 FROM TORNADOS IN KENTUCKY
Kentucky's governor says tornadoes have killed at least 80 people in the state and the death toll may exceed 100.
Governor Andy Beshear said Saturday that a twister had touched down for more than 200 miles in the state Friday night.
In Mayfield, rescuers are picking through the 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, Governor Beshear said it would be a miracle if anyone else were rescued.
Beshear has declared a state of emergency and submitted a request to President Joe Biden for an immediate federal emergency declaration.
President Biden has approved the emergency declaration for Kentucky, ordering federal assistance to help with local response efforts.
The National Weather Service in Paducah says that it was a historic long track Tornado in Western Kentucky. Officials say that the tornado was at least EF3 damage with a maximum width of at least three-quarters of a mile. Surveys are set to continue for the next several days.
MULTIPLE DEATHS REPORTED IN MISSOURI FROM FRIDAY NIGHT TORNADOS
At least two people in Missouri have died and hundreds of homes and buildings are damaged or destroyed after a massive Friday night stormfront that killed dozens in several states.
Overnight Friday, the National Weather Service issued 31 tornado warnings for Missouri.
A young child was killed at home and at least nine people were transported to hospitals in Pemiscot County. A motorist was also killed after striking a utility pole in the county.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson was in Pemiscot County Sunday to assess storm and tornado damage and visit with impacted Missourians.
Governor Parson, along with Governors from other impacted states, spoke with President Joe Biden to coordinate state and federal resources for communities affected by the severe weather and tornadoes.
Parson says that State Emergency Management Agency regional coordinators have been working with local partners to assess resource needs and preliminary damage estimates and will continue to do so in the coming days.
The Caruthersville School District has announced they will not have school today due to one of their kindergarten teacher’s home taking a direct hit from a tornado during the storm.
TORNADO STRIKES NURSING HOME, KILLING TWO, IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Areas of Northeast Arkansas are under a state of emergency due to the severe storm system on Friday.
Governor Asa Hutchinson declared the State of Emergency on Saturday.
The tornado Friday night caused the deaths of two people at the Monette Manor Nursing home as well as extensive damage in the Monette, Trumann, and Leachville areas.
Hutchinson was in Monette over the weekend to assess storm damage and meet with local leaders.
WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE IMPACTED BY TORNADO DAMAGE
There are multiple ways for you to donate to assist those that were affected by the Tornados from this past weekend.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says that people can donate to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund at TeamWKYReliefFund.ky.gov.
According to Beshear, this is a single fund connected with the state that will help fund the ground efforts taking place right now and the relief efforts families will need to rebuild.
The American Red Cross is also taking donations for the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund. More information is available at RedCross.org or by calling 1-800-Red-Cross.
VEHICLE HITS DOWNED UTILITY POLE IN PEMISCOT COUNTY, KILLING ONE PERSON, INJURING ANOTHER
A downed utility pole resulted in the death of one person Friday night in Southeast Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 28 year old Marc Travis, of Caruthersville, was driving on Missouri Highway 84 when his vehicle struck a utility pole that was laying in the roadway.
The wreck occurred two miles east of Hayti at approximately 8:35 pm.
Officials say that Travis was ejected during the wreck and later pronounced dead at a Pemiscot County hospital.
A passenger in the vehicle suffered moderate injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
DONIPHAN DRIVER KILLED AFTER HITTING TREE IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A Doniphan man has died after striking a tree Friday night.
According to the Missouri state Highway Patrol, 39 year old Christopher Koehler was driving on Missouri Highway 142 in Ripley County at around 7:30 pm Friday when his vehicle ran off the side of the roadway and struck a tree.
Koehler was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner.