Rescuers resumed search operations on Sunday for victims of a deadly tornado outbreak with dozens confirmed dead, and destroyed entire communities throughout six states on Friday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the tornado that tore a 200-mile gash across his state and leveled homes and businesses. Beshear told “Face the Nation” on Sunday that left the tornadoes left “devastation like none of us have ever seen before. This tornado didn’t discriminate against anybody in its path, even if they were trying to be safe.” Mayfield, Kentucky, one of the hardest hit communities, showed mass destruction in satellite photos. The official number of confirmed deaths from the tornadoes and severe storms stood at 25 on Sunday morning, with Kentucky suffering the most deaths. But Beshear estimated the actual death toll in his state would exceed 80 and could rise to more than 100 as crews continue sifting through the wreckage.
In Arkansas, two people were killed, including one person in a nursing home. Governor Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that it was a “miracle” that more weren’t killed at the care facility, telling “Face the Nation” — “The staff did an incredible job of using their own body to shield some of the residents, and the fact that there was a warning system in place helped them to move them into the hallway that saved lives, and really emphasize the importance of the early warning system, the sirens and taking action whenever you hear that.”. In Illinois, six people were killed when the roof of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville collapsed during a storm. Forty-five people have been rescued, though it was unclear how many remain missing.
President Biden signed an emergency declaration for Kentucky, saying: “Whatever is needed, the federal government is going to find a way to supply it.” The National Weather Service said the historic tornado that was on the ground for well over 100 miles has been classified as an E3, although it could be reassessed as they study the effects on the ground.
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