On Friday night, an unseasonal tornado outbreak whose path exceeded more than 200 miles tore across six states—Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee—and killed dozens.
Kentucky was hit the hardest; Governor Andy Beshear (D) during a press conference on Saturday confirmed the death toll is over 70, and hinted that it could even be above 100. Beshear called it the “deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky.” The district of Mayfield, in particular, sustained grave damage. The collapse of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, where 110 people were working night shifts, resulted in deaths.
Beshear immediately declared a state of emergency, deploying 180 Kentucky National Guard members and Kentucky State Police to assist in the aftermath of the disaster.
“It’s 15 plus feet of steel, of cars that were in the parking lot that went through the roof of drums of corrosive chemicals,” said Gov. Beshear while talking to NPR. “We’ve gotten about 40 out alive and we haven’t had a live rescue since about 3:30 yesterday morning. It’d take a miracle at this point, but we’re praying for it,” Beshear added, referring to the candle factory incident.
A spokesperson from Mayfield Consumer Products, while talking to the Associated Press, confirmed nine deaths, and nine people missing, leaving 92 people unaccounted for.
Horrific sight at first light from #tornado damage in #Mayfield Kentucky. #Wxtwitter pic.twitter.com/KSjTpko9nz
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 11, 2021
Mayfield factory worker Kyanna Parsons-Perez recalled her experience on NBC’s Today Show, saying, “It was absolutely the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced in my life. [...] I did not think I was going to make it.”
Death tolls in other states are still in single digits. Illinois confirmed six deaths after the walls of an Amazon warehouse collapsed. Four deaths were confirmed in Tennessee, and at least one death has been registered in Arkansas. The total number of deaths and injuries remains uncertain as rescue efforts continue amid massive power outages.
On Saturday, at the request of Beshear, the United States (US) President Biden declared an emergency in Kentucky and authorised the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. Biden also authorized Kentucky to receive federal aid, urging other states to also request if needed.
Biden reassured the US Government’s commitment towards the victims of the disaster saying, “I want folks in all these states to know, we’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through this together. And the federal government is not going to walk away.”
Governor Beshear welcomed Biden’s move, saying, “I appreciate the President’s swift response during our time of need. Now we can get to work supporting our people as we recover.”
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed that FEMA will be on the ground in Kentucky “until recovery is complete.”