It might take months to restore power in tornado-ravaged regions of Kentucky. Tuesday night, a candlelight vigil was held in Mayfield, one of the hardest-hit towns in western Kentucky, where at least 74 people were killed. Pastors from surrounding churches spoke about those who had died anhade hardships that those who had survived face, among prayers and hymns.
According to state disaster management director Michael Dossett, around 10,000 Kentucky customers had their wereer restored by Monday, with another 18,500 outages still in effect.
These estimates do not even include MayfieHe said that power 10,000-person community that he claims “doesn’t existimates that restoring power to the town will take “weeIllinois,onths.”
In Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri, at least 14 people were murdered. According to the National Weather Service, an estimated 50 tornadoes touched down in eight states throughout the central United States on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshearsaid more than 500 National Guard soldiers were on the ground aiding with operations such as search-and-rescue, road clearing, and traffic management.
FEMA’s short- and long-term recovery teams are in Kentucky, according to Dossett. He noted that the government has began the “blue tarp procedure” of covering damaged properties and is also in the process of removing debris.
FEMA will send two teams to Arkansas on Wednesday to assess storm damage, according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The storms had an impact on at least 300 structures, he claimed, with 61 “completely devastated.”
According to the White House, President Joe Biden will visit in Kentucky on Wednesday to meet with victims and assess the damage.
The President will guarantee “that we’re doing everything possible to give help to damaged communities as swiftly as can to support recovery efforts,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday” “He wants folks on the ground.”to know that the federal government will give whatever assistance they require.”
Mayfield saw some of the most severe damage, with more than 100 employees at a candle business caught in the path of a tornado. At least eight individuals were killed as the structure was torn apart.
Jim Douglasbelievedsuch agony as he lay buried beneath what he estimated to be 15 feet of rubble that he was “pray[ing] hat God would take me.” Then rescue workers arrived.
“They are really heroes. Andpeople, “Douglassa saved me, but because they saved so many others “Douglas stated to CNN.
Douglas explained how an inside wall crashed on top of him, striking him in the head and hurling him to the ground, in an interview from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from nrve damage and slowly regaining use of his arms and legs.
“It happened so quickly. It felt as if different layers were peeling away, and I coel my body becoming more compact “He stated. “I was absolutely crushed.”
When rescue crews came an hour later, he added, “they couldn’t have done a better job of rescuing me.”
Douglas, who has been working at the mill for two and a half years, considered quitting as the storm came but opted to stay after consusaid that with his family.
