Overnight storms and tornadoes left widespread damage across western Kentucky, including collapsed buildings, downed trees and extensive power outages.
Gov. Andy Beshear said he expects more than 100 deaths from the storms, with fatalities reported in Graves, Marshall, Warren and Hopkins counties.
On Saturday, he said four tornadoes had touched down, with most destruction coming from one tornado that traveled more than 220 miles from Arkansas through Kentucky.
This post will be updated as information is available.
GRAVES COUNTY
Mayfield in Graves County has reported some of the worst damage, including at a candle factory where Beshear said “at least dozens” may have died when the roof collapsed.
Buildings citywide have been flattened, water has been cut off and many are facing power outages.
“This is probably the toughest day of my life right here,” Graves County Judge-Executive Jesse Perry said during a 10 a.m. press conference Saturday.
"Right now at Mayfield High School, there's 50 people waiting to go somewhere. They have nowhere to go."
Beshear added "a good portion" of Dawson Springs, home to about 3,000, is gone. Photos on social media of the area show fields of debris.
Jimmy Pollard, a spokesman for the Kentucky Coroners Association, said a group of 15 coroners and deputy coroners have set up a staging area in Madisonville, northeast of Dawson Springs, where they will operate as a mass fatality team.
