This something no-one needs in these times of stress….
Dozens of people were feared dead, and communities across the Midwest and South were digging through rubble on Saturday after a string of unseasonably powerful storms and tornadoes swept across six states overnight.
Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said that at least 70 had been killed in a tornado’s path of over 200 miles, and that the state’s death toll could increase to more than 100.
In Mayfield, Ky., about 110 people had huddled inside a candle-making factory when a tornado ripped through it. About 40 people were rescued, but Mr. Beshear said he believed “dozens” had been killed there. At a news briefing on Saturday, shaken local officials said they were struggling to comb through the debris amid blocked roads and lost water and electrical service.
“This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state’s history,” Mr. Beshear said at the briefing. “The level of devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen.”
Other states were also hit hard. Officials said that there were “confirmed fatalities” after a roof collapsed at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, three had died in Tennessee and two in Arkansas….
A monstrous tornado killed dozens of people in Kentucky and the toll was climbing Saturday after severe weather ripped through at least five states, leaving widespread devastation.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said upwards of 70 may have died when a twister touched down for more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) in his state but the number of deaths could exceed 100 across 10 or more counties.
“This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state’s history,” Beshear said at a news conference.
The storms hit a candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon facility in Illinois and a nursing home in Arkansas. Officials had confirmed 29 deaths, including 22 in three Kentucky counties. Beshear said about 110 people were in the Mayfield factory when the tornado roared through.
Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in western Kentucky. Twisted metal sheeting, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets of what was barely recognizable as a town…..
image…AP
The Hill ‘says‘Biden will visit area hit by the storm…
President’s usually wait to do this since assets assigned to search and rescue would have to be pulled to cover his visit….
I’m sure he will make the trip after a while….
At least four people are confirmed dead in Tennessee after storms swept through the state from Friday into Saturday.
An additional 10 people sustained injuries, according to The New York Times, and Alex Pellom, chief of staff for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said 64 others were “walking wounded.”
One person was reported missing in Lake County, Tennessee, the Times reported….
More…
Proper….
McConnell Thanks Biden for Assistance After Tornadoes
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) thanked President Biden for quickly approving his governor’s request to declare a major disaster in the state following the deadly tornadoes on Friday.
(Trump reaction ?)
Rand Paul voted against a bill providing federal relief for the Northeast in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy,against relief for Puerto Rica in 2017 after Hurricane Maria ,against the aid for Texas after Hurricane Harvey and against a major disaster relief bill for several federal agencies in 2019.
Today?Paul wrote to President Biden supporting the Governors request for federal assistance After the devastating tornadoes in Kentucky.
Offered without comment.