Calling it “one of the toughest nights in Kentucky’s history,” Governor Andy Beshear says he plans to assess damage in western Kentucky that was most likely the result of a catastrophic tornado that nearly leveled most of downtown Mayfield.
During an early Saturday news conference, Beshear said he has been in contact with city and county leaders in several western Kentucky counties.
click to download audioBeshear said at least four tornadoes caused damage in over a dozen counties in western and south-central Kentucky.
click to download audioBeshear said there were at least 50 deaths attributed to the storm and that total could reach as many as 100. The governor confirmed deaths in Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, and Warren counties and said several more counties could be added to that list.
Beshear declared a state of emergency for western Kentucky and activated the Kentucky National Guard who is sending 181 guardsmen to the region. He said transportation cabinet heavy machinery and additional Kentucky state troopers would also be sent.
click to download audioThe National Weather Service will send storm survey teams to Graves County this weekend to determine if the likely tornado is the first EF-5 tornado to strike in the U.S. in eight years and the first-ever in Kentucky.
