At least 50 dead as tornadoes devastate Kentucky; Amazon warehouse collapses in Illinois
24 tornadoes across 5 states devastate mid America.One tornado was on the ground for over 200 miles.
A devastating tornado outbreak in western Kentucky has claimed the lives of at least 50 people, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
The total could reach 75 to 100 people, he added, calling it "one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history."
"Dozens" were killed at a candle factory in Mayfield, where 110 people were working when the storm hit Friday night, Beshear said.
In Monette, Arkansas, one person was killed at a nursing home when a suspected tornado moved through Friday night, Craighead County, Arkansas, Judge Marvin Day told Jonesboro ABC affiliate KAIT. Authorities had initially said two people were killed. Five others suffered serious injuries.
Beshear said despite a COVID-19 surge in Kentucky, hospitals were in good shape.
One tornado was on the ground for 200 miles, he said, devastating towns like Mayfield and Princeton late Friday. At least four tornadoes tore through western Kentucky.
Beshear has activated the National Guard with 181 guardsmen deployed for search and rescue and recovery operations.
"We will get make it through this, we will rebuild," Beshear said at a 4 a.m. press conference. "We are strong, resilient people, and we will be there every step of the way."
Comments (22)
That's one Helluvan outbreak.
I've been involved with EMS dealing with the aftermath of outbreaks of multiple tornadoes. I've Never seen Anything like that.
A lot of people who ordered Christmas gifts that were supposed to ship from this Amazon warehouse are going to be disappointed that they never get the item. And some fool will probably think they can sue Amazon which they can't because it was weather related.
"Climate is what we expect - Weather is what we get."
- Mark Twain
A tornado - even a Big one - is Weather.
How to KNOW climate is Really changing -
When countries get into a New "Cold" War over the Resource Riches In the thawing Arctic ... IT'S REAL!!
The Russians have such a Fantastic Record with Nuke Plants ...
I don't think anyone, anywhere, has ever seen anything like that before. Normally they go a few miles then bounce up in the air and come down again 20 or 30 miles away, stay on the ground for a mile or 2, then up in the air again, maybe down a third time another 30 miles away, but usually just dissipating after the second bounce. Staying on the ground without bouncing for a distance equivalent from DC to NYC is something I have never heard of before.
Windy tonight here with a lot high gusts.
(Well before all the Climate Change hoopla - Imagine if it happened Nowadays!)
Over a Mile WIDE
The Kentucky tornado was Similar, as it remained on the ground for a Great Distance.
I've lived in the Upper Mississippi Valley & there were stories of how the river, or joining of rivers, affect the occurrence of tornadoes.
As i recall - Tornadoes were less apt to occurr where rivers join.
I grew up on Minnesota Prairies, but I Never saw so many tornadoes as in the Mississippi Valley.
Some years, it was almost daily in late afternoon.
Most never touched down -
Just the elephant trunk-like cloud descending from the overcast.
Every few years, there'd be one, or an outbreak, that'd make a mess of things.