Nighttime tornadoes went through several states this weekend, tearing apart homes, businesses while downing power lines, scattering debris and killing dozens of people. As a result, rescuers have been out on the search in the aftermath of this devastating storm looking for survivors that are trapped under the rubble.
So far, reports have said almost 100 people are feared to be dead following Friday and early Saturday's storms that hit Arkansa, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
In Kentucky alone, the death toll is about 80 people and is likely to exceed 100, Gov. Andy Beshear stated Sunday morning. This would mark the deadliest tornado in the state's history.
In a statement he said:
"I know people can see the visuals, but that goes on for 12 blocks or more in some of these places. And it's going to take us time. You think you would go door-to-door to check on people and see if they're OK. There are no doors. The question is, is somebody in the rubble of thousands upon thousands of structures? I mean, it is devastating."
Tornadoes Left Behind Chaos
Due to the destroyed buildings, downed power lines, debris and vehicles lining the streets of hard-hit areas, rescuers are having a tougher time reaching communities since there are no phones or working power lines to those communities.
The tornadoes have also been making the rescue efforts more chaotic as the strong winds collapsed an occupied candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon warehouse in west Illinois, alongside a nursing home in Arkansas, killing people in those communities.
Over 30 tornadoes were reported in six states with all of them stretching over 250 miles from Arkansas to Kentucky. Overall, Arkansas officials have reported that there were two weather-related deaths; Tennessee confirming four; Illinois six and Missouri two.
Kentucky has yet to release an official death toll though it does make sense considering the events at the candle factory.
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