Thousands of Kentuckians have applied for help so far, but the deadline to apply for assistance is quickly approaching. And what they find will determine if the tornado which was on the ground for more than 200 miles was an EF3 (136-165mph) or EF5 (more than 200mph winds). Chuck Schaffer and Mike Albano, meteorologists from Central Illinois, started surveying at 6 a.m. just south of Twin Lakes and meticulously made their way toward Princeton, stopping dozens of times to capture photos of snapped trees, crumpledplaygrounds and roofless homes. Despite the devastation, one resident said, Well be OK.. (), MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 12: A photo shows damage as cleanup efforts continue after tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky, United States on December 12, 2021. [1][2], Heavy rain and training thunderstorms developed along a stationary front, which caused high rates of rainfall to occur. Meanwhile, at least one person was killed at the Monette Manor nursing home in northern Arkansas and at least five other people there sustained serious injuries. Simultaneously, a team from Paducah, Kentucky, was surveyingthe Barnsley area in Hopkins County, and another team from Missouri workeditswaytoward Dawson Springs. Contact reporter Krista Johnson atkjohnson3@gannett.com. OPERLE: City hall is still standing but damaged, so the mayor is working out of a strip mall. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after Drone footage captures devastating aftermath of Mayfield, At the edge of Princeton, they took turns pointing out the remnants of brick homes signs that the winds in this area greatly exceeded theEF3 category. It had the balcony, seven fire places and some 6,000 square feet. BEFORE (left): Overview of Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings before the tornado on Jan. 28, 2017. Damage assessments are based on available aerial imagery and are not comprehensive. Brighten your inbox with our weekday newsletter. Photographer Liz Roll has returned to the sites of December's devastating tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky, and other hard-hit areas around the state to document the progress made as heaps of debris are collected and removed. BEFORE (left): Homes and buildings before the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28, 2017. But those who have been hard at work trying to rebuild what the tornado destroyed in December say there's more than meets the eye. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images), Damaged vehicles and buildings following a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, U.S., on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Numerous homes were flooded across western Kentucky, and several flash flood emergencies were issued for locations in western Kentucky and southern Illinois as well. All of a sudden, I just feel this push of just wind behind me. FOX Weather correspondent Nicole Valdes checks in with crews and residents rebuilding Mayfield, KY, after December's devastating tornado. AFTER (right): Close-up view shows damage to Monette Manor Nursing Home on Dec. 11, 2021. "This," he said. "There's the potential that some of these tornadoes could be as strong as an EF-2 or higher. We took them at their word, and thank God we did, she said. Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. In Graves County alone, where Mayfield is located, nearly 900 homes and businesses had been destroyed. The organization also operates in Dawson Springs, Cayce and Benton in addition to Mayfield. "When I first arrived, it was very different than what you see around you now," George Minges, Chief of Emergency Management at the Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District, told Valdes. Despite initial fears of a death toll in the dozens at the candle factory, company officials said Sunday evening that eight people were dead and more than 90 employees had been accounted for. Interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Mayfield, Kentucky, Tornado Damage [PHOTOS & VIDEOS] OPERLE: This week, Moore is taking the final steps to get his GED, and he's been working at a dollar store to save for what he hopes will be a down payment on a newly constructed home in town. Maps: Where the Tornadoes Struck, Destroying Buildings and Homes More than 80 feared dead after tornadoes hit central and southern OPERLE: Just blocks away from the cemetery, the construction crews are working to make that belief a reality. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies. But since then, several survivors havesued the company, accusing it of showing a flagrant indifference to workers safety. On December 10, 2021 a powerful E4 tornado tore through downtown Mayfield in the middle of the night, killing 24 people. Multiple states in the South and Midwest are dealing with massive damage and destruction following a series of deadly tornadoes that ravaged the region Friday night into Saturday morning. Officials in Arkansas said that at least two people were killed in the state. (Brett Adair / LSM), A tornado emergency is an enhanced warning to catch the attention of residents. The storm has killed at least two people and damaged dozens of homes and businesses. "I guess I'll never forget that," he said. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency), Tornado damage is seen in Mayfield, Kentucky, on Dec. 11, 2021. You are just laser-focused on your job and what you have to do and when all of that's done, the gravity of the situation will take over," she said. Since then, residents have banded together to recover and are working to make The night the tornado hit, Moore and his mother were working at Mayfield Consumer Products. Almost two years after the disaster, construction superintendent Tim Cottrell is reporting that nearly a quarter of the 60-home subdivision the nonprofit committed to building in Mayfield are ready to welcome their first residents. The state's mayor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency. A new kind of simulation, called a "digital twin," uses artificial intelligence to help cities better prepare for the challenges and threats of climate change, Representative Ro Khanna sat down with Newsweek to discuss why investments in America's steel industry "is good for the climate.". Being on the ground allowed the teamsto compare what they saw on radar to the damage thatactually transpired. It was the governors 18th visit to Graves County, which includes Mayfield, More about Rick Rojas. As of Feb. 8, FEMA has received more than 15,000 applications for assistance and approved more than $12.1 million through the Individuals and Households Program, including: The Small Business Association alone has approved nearly $35.5 million in disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations. "When they walk into the center, we have representatives available here that will sit down with them one-on-one," said Oscar Salvatier, the Task Force Lead of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The tornado had left the town of Mayfield unrecognizable for those who lived there. It's set to end later this month, and O'Nan expects to hear a lot of hammers this spring. Inside the MCP factory from 2 survivors accounts. The carpet of two-by-fours, tree branches and broken glass has been cleaned up, but it's still so empty. BEFORE (left): Overview of Downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28 2017. Andy Beshear announced the state was launching an investigation shortly after the NBC News report appeared. "You can see how overwhelming its been for them," Albano said of the Paducah team members. They are just different people.. The teams of meteorologists had departed at daybreak Monday to survey the path of the twister, one of five to hit the state. But of course, everything, it takes time. The split image shows a the Graves County courthouse in Mayfield, Kentucky before and after it was damaged by a tornado on December 10, 2021. March 18, 2022. Initially, the Federal Emergency Management Agency set up 18 disaster recovery centers across the state after the tornado outbreak. One of the most devastated sites is the southwestern Kentucky city of Mayfield, where a tornado hit the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory Friday Their families live across these counties.". A Kentucky candle factory that was destroyed by a killer tornado and where workers said they were threatened with dismissal if they left their posts before it hit is closing and half the employees are being laid off. Each one has a bathroom combination laundry room that is built to withstand an EF-5 tornado. KATHY O'NAN: When I drive, it is disorienting sometimes still because our landmarks are completely gone. (Photo But she and her team have already started to wonder what that will feel like. Tornado Batters Mayfield, Ky., but One Resident Says, 'We'll Be OK Andy Beshear. Kentucky tornado news: President Joe Biden to tour damage; more victims identified. The devastation caused by the severe weather has been accompanied by a significant loss of life. The extreme weather occurred in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri with communities in western Kentucky hit exceptionally hard. "Believe it or not, there's been a lot of progress since the tornadoes hit," Montgomery said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or Now, a year later, he sees a path forward through all of the loss. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. All rights reserved. AFTER (right): Damage to farm buildings after tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Dec. 11, 2021. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies OPERLE: He visited his father's grave for the one-year anniversary of the tornado and his death. "We have multiple cars kinda fused into a tractor-trailer, the candle factory was apparently 120,000sq ft and the entire building is gone," Jackson tweeted, "there is at least 1 vehicle sitting in what used to be the middle of the building. "The damage is significant and we expect multiple fatalities," he said in a news conference, adding that Graves County and "specifically the city of Mayfield have been hit really hard.". The people of Mayfield, a town of 10,000, surveyed the extensive tornado damage. Mayfield tornado path in Kentucky to be studied for potential EF5 Tyler Hofelich, who also follows storms, tweeted that the tornado "has lofted debris over 30,000 feet into the air," and described it as "among the most intense" ever recorded. A dedication ceremony will be held for the first 13 homes on Sept. 29 in Mayfield. About 1,400 others had been damaged. BEFORE (left): Farm buildings before tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Feb. 22, 2021. Ferguson denied the allegations. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Published August 21, 2023 at 2:15 PM CDT. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images), Nicole Valdes visits Mayfield, KY two months after historic tornado outbreak, days before the historic tornado outbreak, Remembering the deadly Heartland tornadoes two months later, More than $8.7 million for housing assistance, More than $3.4 million for other assistance. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies. What was also concerning for FOX Weather meteorologists was how conducive conditions were in the region to spawn powerful and extremely dangerous tornadoes. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. The tornado struck the city at around 9.30 p.m. local time Friday, impacting municipal buildings and homes. redistributed. They wondered if at some points along the path they were on thatthe tornado might have reached EF5 levels. (Brett Adair / LSM), A Tornado Emergency was issued for Mayfield, Kentucky, as a large tornado was spotted moving through the city. "Some of our mission now is going to where the survivors are," Brian Montgomery, a member of the disaster survivors assistance team, said. In the gallery at the top of this page, you can see a collection of images taken earlier this month in Mayfield, Bowling Green, Sherwood Shores and Gilbertsville. Dec. 11, 2021 MAYFIELD, Ky. The grid of narrow streets in the heart of Mayfield, Ky., had become a perilous maze of downed utility lines, dangling tree limbs and The storms also tore down and damaged around one-third of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, where it is believed that people are trapped inside, CBS-affiliate KMOV reported. DAKOTA MOORE: All right. The local authorities had stressed just how bad the storm could be. MOORE: And my ears are ringing. In Kentucky, one tornado stayed on the ground for more than 200 miles. But for many, the recovery process isn't moving fast enough. ZACHARY DANIEL: Sometimes I still don't believe it. hide caption, BEFORE (left): Amazon Warehouse and buildings Edwardsville, Illinois on Sept. 24, 2021. The fact that we have that type of risk is very notable. Each of the 60 homes already has a family lined up to move in as renters once theyre complete. Many ran for basements and closets. Active search and rescues happening in Mayfield, KY. [14] A shelter was opened for displaced residents following the disaster.[13]. Turn on notifications for your desktop, tablet, or mobile web browser to stay on top of breaking news, top stories and all our best content. The EF-4 tornado that struck Mayfield was on the ground for 165.7 miles between the Kentucky/Tennessee border and Beaver Dam, Kentucky, and had a top wind speed of 190 mph. I heard that with my own ears.. OPERLE: Twenty-one-year-old Dakota Moore now lives in one of about two dozen trailers, tiny houses and shipping container homes that a local nonprofit set up at a campground. Copyright TWC Product and Technology LLC 2014, 2023, Damage is seen outside the remains of a theater in Mayfield, Kentucky, on March 8, 2022, as the cleanup from a deadly EF4 tornado continues. BEFORE (left): Homes and buildings before the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28, 2017. "Please, get us some help," she added. Chris Jackson, a storm watcher, tweeted that emergency services arrived at the factory just before 1am. [13][14], Near Mayfield, 11.28 inches (287mm) of rain fell, setting a new record rainfall in Kentucky. hide caption. The homes we built are not just your standard home, Cottrell said. A lot of the roads weren't passable. We LGBs Need to Divorce the TQI+s, AI Is Helping Cities Build Resilience to Climate Change, New Factories Key to Democrat's Clean Energy Plan, Plane Passenger Captures 'Horrifying' View of Kelowna Wildfires, Trump Co-Defendants Get Conditions for Staying Out of Jail, Ron DeSantis Promises a Prosecutor Crackdown. Yet residents were out on Saturday morning, struggling to maneuver around it all, anguished by the aftermath of the tornado that had shredded their community. [3][1] A moderate risk of excessive rainfall was issued by the Weather Prediction Center, and a flood watch was issued for Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Missouri. A Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies. Just over two days after an unprecedented tornado wreaked havoc on Mayfield, Kentucky Gov. (Liam Kennedy/Bloomberg via Getty Images), (Liam Kennedy/Bloomberg via Getty Images), MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 12: An aerial photo shows a damage as cleanup efforts continue after tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky, United States on December 12, 2021. 'This is home': Mayfield recovery continues 2 months after deadly O'NAN: What we're building now is a backdrop for my grandchildren's lives and the lives to come. BEFORE (left): Farm buildings before tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Feb. 22, 2021. Valdes followed along with disaster survivor assistance teams while they went door-to-door, looking for people who may have not yet applied for assistance. AFTER (right) Overview of the damage to the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings after the tornado on Dec. 11, 2021. Just before midnight Friday, Beshear had issued a state of emergency and activated the Kentucky National Guard and other agencies to deal with the devastation. Andy Beshear told the people of the commonwealth that the exact speed of the tornado was still unknown. "This is a massive event and the largest and most devastating in Kentucky's history," Dossett said. The office has already asked mental health counselors to come in to help employees once things have begun to calm. A train was also derailed during extreme winds in Hopkins County, Kentucky, WKYT-TV reported. Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. The damage was Kentucky Tornado Recovery, Three Months After the Disaster MOORE: And I'm using that right there to better myself and help me and my future. In Bowling Green, Ky., a tornado reached wind speeds of 150 miles per hour and severely damaged homes and businesses. (John Amis), Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. Derek Operle of WKMS reports from Mayfield, Ky., where a tornado last year killed 24 people and injured hundreds more. Here's where I sleep. @JackKaneWPSD shared these photos of some of the damage there. The National Weather Service created the warning for the rare situation when a severe threat to human life is imminent or ongoing. AFTER (right) Overview of the damage to the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings after the tornado on Dec. 11, 2021. "This is going to be some of the worst tornado damage that we have seen in a long time," he added. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (Robert Ray), Emergency workers search what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 11, 2021. Video posted on Facebook video from inside a candle factory in the city illustrated the fear faced by people trapped by debris, A number of voices can be heard in the clip which is mostly in darkness. BEFORE (left): Close-up view of Monette Manor Nursing Home on Feb. 22, 2021. Tracking tornado deaths and damage by the numbers - The Where is Mayfield, Kentucky? What to know about town hit Follow our live coverage of the tornado outbreak. (Brett Adair / LSM), "There's a ton of debris all over the roadway that we've had to cut through with a chainsaw, drag trees out of the way with chains," Adair said. This tornado was one of 69 spawned by the storm that killed more than 90 people in five states. However, that's only about of the debris that remains across the city. Damaged and destroyed buildings in Mayfield, Ky. Everyone is expected to live up to certain standards of both the law, of safety and of being decent human beings, he said. Its easy to see why the pain is still so A year ago, tornadoes ripped across the country's heartland, and one of the hardest-hit towns is still picking up the pieces. Kentucky candle factory destroyed by deadly tornado is closing Ryan C. Hermens / Lexington Herald-Leader via AP, Kentucky candle factory destroyed in tornado closes, a deputy jailer who was supervising a group of inmates. Samaritans Purse is also working to assist storm survivors in installing in-ground storm shelters, supply survivors with new furniture and offer classes to area residents that deal with disaster recovery-related topics like financial skills, emotional and spiritual health. Here are some of the latest developments in the ongoing cleanup across the state of Kentucky: -Monday was the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance in western Kentucky. "Having a threat level this high in December is not common," FOX Weather meteorologist and senior weather producer Greg Diamond said that morning. Peering out at a field filled with debris, where an 80,000-square-foot building previously stood, Albano tried to grasp the history of the moment.

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