Lion’s share of tornado damage centers on Western Kentucky

Key Takeaways

Graves County, Ky. is one of many in the middle-South facing an uphill battle Monday after a severe storm Dec. 10 spawned what the National Weather Service called the worst winter outbreak of tornadoes on record, with at least 30 different funnel clouds.

In counties in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, residents have faced below-freezing temperatures over the weekend with little access to utilities. Graves County so far has recorded 20 of the storms’ 74 fatalities — in addition to more than 100 people still missing in the six states — mostly in a candle factory that collapsed. The county’s courthouse in the seat of Mayfield suffered severe damage, as did the county jail. Corrections officer Robert Daniels was killed when a tornado destroyed the building where he was supervising a work crew, WAVE-TV reported. Half of the population of the Graces County jail was moved to the neighboring McCracken County, Ky. Jail.

“Now we're just going through as we are putting together volunteer groups and assessing the situation,” Judge/Executive Jesse Perry said on NPR’s Morning Edition Dec. 11. “We just got an uphill battle at this point. Some things that we’re up against is there’s no power. Food and water [are] being brought in, which — that’s a blessing for our communities. But we’re still having lots of volunteers and EMS and folks going door-to-door making sure to see that folks are OK in the path of the tornado, where the path went through.”

President Biden issued a federal disaster declaration and FEMA has begun sending aid including search and rescue teams, food supplies and generators. The disaster declaration covers Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer and Warren counties in western Kentucky.

Indiana Taskforce 1 Urban Search and Rescue unit has been deployed to Kentucky to assist the community. They are deploying firefighters as well as search and rescue dogs and other equipment. In addition, 300 National Guardsmen have been deployed.

Perry mentioned on Morning Edition that Mayfield High School, which was serving as a shelter, had a water outage, making relief efforts even more complicated.

“Right now, we’re in transition for those folks that are in the shelter to get them more of a permanent location,” he said.

Perry reflected on the challenge during a Dec. 11 news conference with Gov. Andy Beshear (D), calling it the toughest day of his life.

“When you run for office, you don’t know what to expect, but when you see your communities and your county in this kind of situation, it’s tough,” he said. “It’s tough on our communities, it’s tough on our families.

“The only thing that I could say to you all at this time... what we need from everyone, is we need your prayers, we need your help.”

Do more

GoFundMe
GoFundMe trust and safety specialists have certified the fundraisers on a centralized hub for fundraising efforts in all six states affected by the tornadoes.

Edwardsville Community Foundation
Funds raised for ECF will go towards assisting the Madison County, Ill. community.

Salvation Army
You can designate donations for either Illinois and Missouri or Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Graves County, Ky. relief fund
Local relief funds for county residents will be managed by board members Sheriff John Hayden, Mayor Kathy O'Nan, Judge/Executive Jesse Perry, Independence Bank President Darvin Towery and community member Cindy Cash, according to a message posted on the county’s Facebook page.

Mayfield Graves Co. Tornado Relief Fund
PO Box 9
Fancy Farm, KY 42039

Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
Gov. Beshear established the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to assist those impacted by the tornados and the severe weather system.

Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
c/o Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero Street, 218 NC
Frankfort, KY 40601