Biden Touring Mayfield, Dawson Springs Tornado Damage
President Biden is visiting Kentucky today to tour tornado ravaged areas in the western part of the commonwealth. The President is set to land in Fort Campbell this morning and will then tour damaged areas of Mayfield and Dawson Springs. Biden has signed a major disaster declaration, freeing up federal assistance to affected areas of the commonwealth. The President says he is working with Governor Andy Beshear to ensure his visit will not disrupt recovery efforts.
Beshear Provides Tornado Death Toll Update
Governor Andy Beshear says he expects that the death toll from a weekend outbreak of tornadoes will rise. Beshear says the official toll remained at 74 yesterday, and that among the dead are 12 children. The governor says the age range of deaths recorded so far spans two months to 98 years old. Graves County had the highest death toll with 21, followed by Hopkins with 17, Warren with 15, and Muhlenberg with eleven. There were two deaths in Marshall County, and one each in Taylor, Franklin, Fulton, and Lyon counties. Beshear says about 100 Kentuckians are still missing.
Beshear Tours Bremen, Consoles Families
Governor Beshear is continuing to tour areas of Kentucky hit by damaging tornadoes. Beshear spent time in Bremen yesterday, consoling families and comforting children along his route. The governor says recovery in the area will take time and pledged his full support to the effort. He says the commonwealth has been hit by several historic health and weather events in the last two years, but he is committing resources for a similarly historic response.
Kentucky Agency Investigating After Deaths At Candle Factory
The Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance is investigating after the deaths of at least eight workers at a candle factory in Mayfield. Officials say the investigation into Mayfield Consumer Products’ work practices is underway, which Governor Andy Beshear says happens anytime there is a workplace death. Multiple news outlets are reporting that employees are saying they were warned they’d be fired if they left their shifts early as the tornado approached. MCP has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
BBB Warns Of Disaster Relief Scams
The Better Business Bureau is advising people who want to give to tornado relief efforts to protect themselves against scams. The BBB in Kentucky recommends people check out Give-dot-org where background on certain charities is available. Officials say it’s important when donating that you know where your money is going and who it is benefiting. More information is provided on the Kentucky Attorney General’s website.
Fulton County Status Report
Fulton County Emergency Management reports the county fared better than Mayfield/Graves County. However, they still have some substantial issues. Fulton County had 1 fatality, has 23 homes that are a total loss, and 3 businesses lost. The Cayce Fire Department headquarters and much of their equipment was wiped out by the tornado. At this time, the county has limited sporadic cell service using a temporary tower and most internet services are down. The community is overwhelmed with the generosity of the many who have sent supplies and equipment their way.
Supply Distribution Locations
Distribution points for water, food and other supplies have been established. These Point of Distribution (POD) locations will offer pick-up for basic materials to supply families and individuals with enough food and water for approximately three days. Each family will then rotate through to receive another three-day supply. PODs will be open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST. Individuals who are picking up supplies should exercise patience and use caution for their safety and the safety of workers. Donations of supplies will not be accepted at these POD locations.
Graves County Fairgrounds (Drive-Through Only) Items Available: Food, water, baby supplies and cleaning supplies. 101 Housman Street Mayfield, KY
Mayfield High School (Drive-Through Only) Items Available: Food, water, baby supplies and cleaning supplies. 700 Douthitt Street Mayfield, KY
High Point Baptist Church Items Available: Food and water. 220 Farthing Street (9th & Farthing)
Individuals and families who have been displaced by the storms are being welcomed into the Kentucky State Parks for emergency housing. Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Kenlake State Resort Park, and Lake Barkley State Resort Park all have rooms available to persons displaced by the storm.
Paducah Church Filling The Needs Of Tornado Victims
A Paducah church says it’s received so many donations for tornado victims, it’s run out of boxes. Lone Oak First Baptist Church opened to serve as a shelter during Friday night’s severe weather. Since then, it’s been accepting donations of supplies for those impacted by the severe weather in Western Kentucky. Members of the church say it’s always been about filling the needs of people.
Mayfield Police Get Help From Tennessee
The police department in tornado-ravaged Mayfield is getting some help from police in Middle Tennessee. The Lebanon Police Department sent three cruisers to police in Mayfield earlier this week. The cars even had the Mayfield Police Department’s graphics on the cars when they arrived thanks to the Advance Signs and Graphics shop in Lebanon. Lebanon police say they remember what it was like after their town was hit by tornadoes in March of 2020.
Boil Water Advisory Issued In Dawson Springs
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Agency is issuing a boil water advisory for Dawson Springs Water System customers. The order follows deadly tornadoes. More than 70 people across the Commonwealth were killed as a result of severe weather over the weekend. Hopkins County EMA officials say they don’t know when the boil water advisory will be lifted.
Kentucky State News Brief
Detective Regrets Fatally Shooting Breonna Taylor
(Louisville, KY) — Former LMPD detective Myles Cosgrove says he regrets shooting and killing Breonna Taylor during a raid on her home. However, Cosgrove also says he knew his life and that of Sergeant Johnathan Mattingly were in danger if he didn’t return fire after Mattingly was shot by Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker. Cosgrove told the Louisville Police Merit Board he was addressing the deadly threat that was in front of him when Taylor was killed. The comments were made yesterday during the third day of testimony in his termination appeal, which will continue today.
Focus Of Raid On Breonna Taylor’s Home Sent To Mississippi
(Louisville, KY) — The man who was the focus of the drug investigation that led to the deadly raid on Breonna Taylor’s home is no longer in Kentucky. Convicted drug trafficker Jamarcus Glover was sent back to his home state of Mississippi earlier this month to serve his five years of probation for drug charges, including trafficking in cocaine. Glover is on home incarceration, but allowed to work and take his daughter to daycare. A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge warned Glover this is his last chance before being sentenced to prison.
JCPS To Seek Input On School Security Plans
(Louisville, KY) — JCPS will get feedback next month on potential school security plans. Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said yesterday it will be February at the earliest before he presents a school security plan for board approval. Pollio told the Jefferson County Board of Education yesterday that the goal is to provide “enhanced training” to current JCPS security monitors, arming them and assigning them to clusters of schools. He said security won’t be in the school the entire day but could quickly respond to situations as needed.
Oldham Co. Native Among Those Killed At Mayfield Candle Factory
Oldham County native Passes in Mayfield
An Oldham County native is among those who were killed when a tornado hit Mayfield’s candle factory. Jill Monroe moved to Mayfield last summer but was planning to move back to Oldham County this Christmas. Family members say one of the last text messages they received from her said she was sheltering in a bathroom. She told a coworker that she planned to stay at the factory despite the storms to earn money to buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren.
Tennessee State News Brief
NWS: 14 Tornadoes Touched Down In Tennessee
(Nashville, TN) – Over a dozen tornadoes are being confirmed in Tennessee. The National Weather Service says 14 tornadoes touched down in Tennessee over the weekend. Tornadoes touched down in over a dozen West and Middle Tennessee counties. At least four people were killed during the severe weather.
Home Depot Distributes Disaster Kits Following Tornadoes
(Jackson, TN) – The Home Depot is helping Tennesseans impacted by tornadoes. The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force in Jackson is distributing hundreds of disaster relief kits throughout the state after 14 tornadoes touched down over the weekend. The kits include trash bags, gloves, wipes, batteries, flashlights, tarps, towels and more. At least four people died as a result of the severe weather.
Lebanon PD Sends Police Cruisers To Kentucky Town Hammered By Tornado
(Lebanon, TN) – A Middle Tennessee police department is doing what it can to help police in tornado-ravaged Mayfield, Kentucky. The Lebanon Police Department sent three cruisers to police in Mayfield earlier this week. The cars even had the Mayfield Police Department’s graphics on the cars when they arrived thanks to the Advance Signs and Graphics shop in Lebanon. Lebanon police say they remember what it was like after their town was hit by tornadoes in March of 2020.
TDH Updates State Coronavirus Cases
(Nashville, TN) — There are over 18-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over one-million-341-thousand. An additional 50 COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at over 17-thousand-800. There are more than one-thousand COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
SCHD Updates COVID-19 Numbers
(Memphis, TN) — The Shelby County Health Department is updating its COVID-19 numbers. SCHD reported over 80 new cases yesterday, bringing the total to over 151-thousand since the outbreak began. Health department officials say there have been over 24-hundred COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the outbreak. There are over 19-hundred active cases in Shelby County.
MLGW Offering Free Heaters, Electric Blankets
(Memphis, TN) — Memphians can stay warm this winter with the help of Memphis, Light, Gas and Water. MLGW is partnering with Neighborhood Christian Center to provide electric blankets and space heaters to qualified low-income seniors and the disabled through Shelby County’s annual Power of Warmth program. To qualify, applicants must live in Shelby County, be disabled and, or a low-income senior with an MLGW account in their name. Applications are being accepted online only through December 31st.
Believers Fight Sin With Prayer In Memphis
(Memphis, TN) — Believers are using the power of prayer to fight sin in Memphis. The personal finance site WalletHub recently named Memphis one of the top ten Most Sinful Cities in America, saying it’s tops in the nation for violent crime per capita of people. The group Memphis Prayer 365 gathered along the Mississippi River for a day of prayer for Memphis yesterday. Over 40 churches participated in the event.
Another Christmas Package Shipping Deadline Arrives
(Memphis, TN) — Another deadline is here for shipping packages that need to be delivered by Christmas. Federal Express says Christmas packages being sent by FedEx Ground or FedEx home Delivery need to be shipped today. Packages going via two-day delivery must be sent by December 22nd. For overnight services the deadline is December 23rd and the FedEx Same Day shipping deadline is December 24th.
