75 confirmed dead, 16 unaccounted for

normally filled with good news and sometimes a covid update. Today, we're going to focus almost exclusively, Um, on, uh, as we sit here today, we believe that the total loss of life thus far 75 Kentucky ins though there are at least initial reports that there may be at least one more That will come in today. I want to go over the discrepancy between the number 71 out there and why I have 75. It involves three individuals that we believe have been lost that are from Hopkins County, but passed away either outside of Hopkins County or have not been reported to the coroner. We do believe that there that that 17 number is right. However, I pray that it is wrong. So there is a at least a discrepancy of three there. We also lost an individual to a heart attack in Warren County. Uh, my understanding that was working on debris removal that somebody lost to this disaster. So that is where we have our number at the moment. 75. The missing appears to be down to 16, and that is good news. Um, that is primarily from Hopkins County. 15 but again remember, we only know if someone is missing if they have been reported On those injured 100 38 Kentucky ins, uh, went to the emergency room shortly during or or after the tornado. We do not have numbers right now on how many remain and or their condition. Yesterday, yesterday we had a visit from the president of the United States. We're here in Kentucky, have felt the love and support of the entire country and of the entire world. And I'm walking through it yesterday and actually being able to get further back in Dawson Springs. The devastation is still I don't know if the right word is profound. Traumatic, Um, painful, especially from a for me from a town that was your safe place. Growing up here is may feel, but we have, despite all that pain, felt the love President, United States, Secretary of Homeland Security, The administrator for FEMA all personally reached out the vice president and so many others and they committed. And then we not only saw it in the fastest emergency declaration that I'm aware of ever in the history of the United States and the fastest major declaration ever president United States, whose got a lot on his plate, came down to see us, To look at us in the eye and to tell us that not only was he going to be here for the years to come, which is exactly what I needed and we needed to hear, but that he cared about us. The people of both Mayfield and Dawson Springs. Um, I could tell it's all that, um, people that no, my dad. Well, who were there, right in the line of the tornado. Getting to talk one on 1, uh, to the president. We appreciate him being here. It showed a level of dedication and he showed a level of care for for us. And I want to make sure that this visit is only viewed the way it should as support that we are grateful for. And while I was here, he even made some more news, stepped up doing yet another thing that you almost never see. But it's gonna help us even more. On Tuesday evening, I submitted They request to the president for the federal government to cover 100% of the costs of some of the specific costs of recovery from the tornadoes. For our 1st 30 days of digging out, I did this, um, hoping. But knowing even the 75 25 share, which is what it normally is, with the federal government fans 75% And the state and the county really splitting the 25%, the county pays a little bit more about knowing that's hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars. And so we asked for what would almost be the unthinkable. Can you, the federal government just pay for all of certain costs to help us? On Wednesday, the president told me personally, the answer was yes. He actually said when the request came in, he didn't know if he had the legal authority to do it, and it turns out he did, and he said yes to me in person and in the Princeton airport, 100% cost chair will cover assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance. That is going to be a huge amount of money, and that's going to free up other dollars for us for the months and the years to come. It's gonna give us the tools we require to help and to dig out, you know, and Mayfield. There's something therapeutic about not only having the streets been cleared, which they happen but actually watching. And I saw this in Bremen, too. The chaos, the devastation being put into a dump truck and taken out of town. I was special in Mayfield. We're not seeing as much yet in Dawson. I know it's picking up, um, and this is going to help cover all of that. You know, I look forward in the weeks to come when, while we won't have rebuilt that people can walk down their streets without rubble on the sidewalk, where they can get a better picture Of what things can look like as we move forward. Whether it was yesterday's visit or this new 100% coverage, federal government has done absolutely everything that we have asked them to do, and we've asked for some things that were hard for them to say Yes on. Got a number of other updates, um, just a few more pieces that director Dawson will cover on 100%. Um, eligible applicants are not only state government, but local government as well. It's funded through the public Assistance grant program. After 30 days, the cost share reverts to the 75. 25. I can guarantee you we're gonna be asking for something different there when we reach it. In other great news, FEMA Is on the ground. Uh, I think between what they have helping us in Frankfurt and on the ground there, over 700 people, I think it's one of the biggest, most robust responses that we have seen. And they are walking house to house. So houses aren't standing and and already, um, processing claims, Um, online and I'll go how to do it or with people walking around. We've already had 5500 registrations in the system and I can't believe this, but they've already made payments from FEMA. We've got at least $550 that have gone out the door. We're on day six. There will be millions that go out the door. But it is incredible. I I was surprised when I heard this morning that money is already going out the door. That is really special. Let's show the slide about ways that you can sign up for disaster assistance and Director Das it's going to go over this again. First, there's disaster assistance dot gov That's available 24/7. We have seen significant sign ups on it. It can be used to register for disaster assistance, but also to check your application status, which you can in real time. Okay, there is a slide that goes through the three different ways to do it. One is the hold on just a second. We'll go over the second part. If you can't get online, you can call these numbers 1 806 213362 or 1 806 21 FEMA. It's available seven a.m. to one a.m. Monday through Sunday. Live agents are available to help you begin your claim. They will help you over the phone. And then there is the FEMA mobile app that you can download. It's available 24 7. You can get it through both the Apple App store and Google play. It can be used to register for disaster assistance, check application status, and you can even upload different documents that you would need. Additionally, FEMA has registration intake centers open so and go online disaster assistance stuck up. You can call these phone numbers. You can also download the APP. You can talk to a person walking through the neighborhood. They all have ipads there, taking the pictures that you would otherwise have to take if they're there. Or you can go to any of these locations. In Hopkins County, the FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Center is at 9 60 Industrial Park Road. That's in Dawson Springs. It's eight a.m. to five p.m. And and that's because there's a curfew there. This is when people can come in, uh, and help people in Graves County. It is at 11 oh, to Paris Road in Mayfield again. eight a.m. to five p.m. Muhlenberg County. I think we're gonna be able to handle through the canvassing. It's a small town hit really hard. And I'd say I I was really impressed, Um, by the mayor. Bye bye, Curtis Or County judge, who I've known forever. Former Sheriff um, their fire department and everybody else. I mean, they've got so many people out there helping other people. It was really special to see. And in Warren County, it is at 2565 Russellville Road in Bowling Green. eight a.m. to five p.m. On social media, we will get a listing of those locations up, all right, As an update on our state parks, we have opened them up to take our people in. And as, uh, as we walked around as Brittany, who's over here? I keep looking over, um, walked around Both question we always ask people, is where you staying? Um, and if they were sleeping on somebody's couch, we were telling them, Come to our state park and let us take care of you. I got to speak to some people that are out of Penny rile. And, um, I said, they're taking great care of everybody out there. So we announced that our state parks would provide a minimum stay of two weeks for anybody displaced by, uh, these tornadoes. And by two weeks, I was trying to make sure that everybody knew they didn't need to to worry about tomorrow. Today we're extending that minimum to four weeks, and the very least, Well, how's your month and lesson? If there's somebody who has a reservation whose house has power and they're warm, if we have to cancel their reservation. For those of you that that don't have, um, that warm home to go home to right now. Right now, we are housing. 610, uh, displaced Kentucky ins 176 1st responders. We do have room for some more. We have nine rooms available in Kentucky Dam village. They've got 89 displaced Kentucky ins 155 1st responders. Ken, like we have 12 rooms available. We got 146 displaced Kentucky and eight first responders there. Lake Barkley. We have one room available that's got 212 displaced Kentucky and 13 1st responders. This is where we moved an entire shelter. Um, there, I think. When When, um, Secretary Berry first contacted the minister. He he he thought it must be a scam because we were gonna take in that many families and provide them stable housing. Um, pretty special. And I want to thank that congregation for helping those people at barren river like we have 40 rooms available there helping 21 displaced Kentucky and James John James Audubon. Four rooms available, helping nine displaced Kentucky and hay penny ride. We have one room available, which must have opened up, meaning somebody's got kin that have taken them in. We have 100 and 29 um, displaced Kentucky ins. Uh, we got a lot going on out there, which is pretty special. Pennyroyal. The police department for the city of Morganfield coordinated a gifts and Santa visit. I think they're going to see Santa more than a few times at our state parks. And a special thanks to T Mobile for donating cell phones With 30 days of unlimited talk, text and internet sinking for church. Also provided lunches for families out there. And then at Rough River Dam State Resort Park, we got 44 rooms available. We're currently housing for displaced Kentucky ins. Um, I think that we've got a lot of volunteers to that are out there. These aren't just our state employees taking care of folks. We got as many folks as we have asked for that have come and helped out a little bit on on some other pieces. Uh, on the transportation cabinet side, we believe most all roads in every displaced area are now cleared enough to get through Um, just from Graves County alone, the transportation Cabinet has has taken 1300 loads out of Mayfield. There's more than 600 transportation employees working hard on this every day division of forestry still out there, with 29 employees doing the sawing work and two bulldozers helping out our National Guard presence, now over 600 deployed. I think it's about 535 131 in the impacted counties. Our mission is changing is now primarily augmenting law enforcement, preventing looting. And if you are somebody out there that would even consider looting someone's home, that's lost everything. Shame on you. We will find you. We will arrest you is absolutely despicable. Um, they're also doing wellness checks and helping with traffic Control over 1200 state employees and guard combined in these areas Que sp on the ground in the areas about 100, Um, and and they are verifying and accounting, uh, for people who are missing. Thus far, they've verified and accounted for 90% of the employees from the MCP candle factory, and right now the information that the company has given us is correct. That would suggest just eight loss in that factory, which is a miracle is an absolute miracle. Um, In this disaster, I will tell you I was almost certain that the number would be 70. But thank God, um, others either left or or escaped. Um, it was feared much, much worse. Absolute miracle. Que SPS continues to conduct welfare checks on behalf of family members and loved ones. Um, for okay, Que sp is asking. And we don't need that. Que SP continues to use rapid DNA technology to assist in the identification of victims. Again, we need any family members of missing persons to come to where they're doing this. His house ministries Between 10 am and five pm today, any day to submit DNA. Okay, Couple other things on on helping people with services. A signed an executive order waiving fees for disaster victims needing to replace lost operator licenses, permits and state I D cards. That means there will be no fees. As we are able to replace those transportation cabinet will be setting up temporary credential issuance station. This is going and getting your your permits and your licenses in Mayfield at 355 Charles Drive So you need that driver's license replaced your real i D. Replaced. 355 Charles Drive to pop up. Driver's licensing units will be ready by eight a.m. Monday, December 20th, and we'll operate each business day through the first week of January. Also, we will have a temporary driver's licensing station in Dawson Springs when the when the location is identified. No transportations hauling food and water from FEMA to impacted areas again. All state routes are passable. 70% of county and city routes in and around Mayfield are now possible. So a very good job there, uh, we have a lot of different power numbers. I'm gonna let Michael Doucet give his, uh, in a minute. Um, it's really hard, though, because we can restore the main power lines. But then there are still so many that are out there. The TVA has been doing really good work. Their overall power system remains stable and secure. They have restored power to 18 customer connection points. Western Kentucky Rural Electric cooperative, Murray Electric System bent an electric service, Glasgow Electric Plant Board, Lexington Electric Service that's in Tennessee, Pennyroyal Rural Electric Cooperative and Gibson Electric Membership corporations still working on Mayfield. But just because you are able to restore power to those co operatives, um, still, the connection points between them and houses in many places has to be, um, rebuilt. looks like they got at least 21 crews, 160 individuals out there with more contractors than that, uh, Team Western Kentucky Relief Fund. Now, um, $15.9 million. With over 93,000 donations, we are providing the first set of funds which are going out the door to cover funeral expenses. Nobody has to apply. We're contacting the individuals directly. One of the next areas we're going to look, which is really important, is how we can help, uh, some uninsured homeowners, if you know Dawson Springs like I do or may feel like others do. And these and other areas it hit neighborhoods of people that were already struggling to get by. And it's not that they didn't want to have homeowner's insurance. It's that they couldn't afford it. And so we're gonna look at using this fund to help, because the individual assistance from FEMA we're gonna look for all different sources is capped at $37,900 and that can go if you're insured above your insurance. But for those that don't have it, that's not going to be enough to rebuild. So we're gonna look at how we can augment, um, those families with this fund, those that are already struggling, um, shouldn't be struggling more after this thing is over with what they have already gone through. I'll tell you what we got. We got a couple of other updates on unemployment insurance and others, but after that, Brittany, I think we could use some really good news if you'll continue to update us on how these kids who've been through the worst are going to have the very best Christmas in the history of Kentucky Afternoon As first lady, I was left speechless. The heartbreaking images of entire communities left grieving after this natural disaster. But as a mother, my heart act especially for those youngest Kentucky INS among us, for whom the holidays are particularly magical time of the year. So on Monday this week, I announced we're teaming up with our number one partner, Santa Claus, who's going to help us launch the western Kentucky toy drive It's an effort to collect new unwrapped toys, books, games, electronics and $25 visa or mastercard gift cards for the Children of Western Kentucky. This morning I visited Broadbent Arena in Louisville, which is our largest donation hub. I was overwhelmed and left speechless. It's incredible the way that people have responded to this call. I was delighted to be able to help load some of the boxes with toys that have been donated. There were volunteers there who there was one elderly woman who had gone yesterday to drop off toys. And she's still there. She is still helping to unload and sort toys. Just while we were there, I think three trucks full of Amazon deliveries showed up as well as a semi. I I'm speechless. These Children and their families just deserve it, and it's It's so heartwarming. So while we are still collecting toys, we have to shift from the collection to the to the delivery of these items. Specifically, we are in need of gift wrapping supplies as well as more $25 visa or mastercard gift cards and items for older kids and teens like electronics, video games, athletic gear and bikes and, of course, books and art supplies are always needed as well. We will continue to accept donations until Saturday, December 18th. If you are able to contribute, please visit first lady dot ky dot gov backslash Toy Drive to find the location nearest you. I think it's also important to remember that every donation counts. It is not too small or too large. There will be a child with joy because of your thoughtfulness. These tornadoes in the loss they inflicted would have been devastating regardless of when they happen. But the proximity to the holidays just somehow makes it a little more painful to everyone who has contributed so far to the staff and the volunteers who have made this effort possible. Thank you. I may have said this yesterday or the day before, as we were learning that tens of thousands of gifts were coming in. I I said to Britney after Christmas this year, What are the parents going to do next year? And she said to me, these kids didn't just lose their Christmas toys, Andy. They lost all their toys, so let's shower them in gifts. All right, let's turn to Director Doucet update. And then I've got some, uh, things specifically for Kentucky ins in the area, including, uh, some assistance with unemployment since their places of business will be down. But as he's coming up, um, I've been asked by businesses all over the country how they can help, and they have helped in so many different ways from supplies to unprecedented amount of dollars. But let me just say this. We're gonna lose a lot of businesses in the area, and there's gonna be a rebuilding process. The number one thing any company out there can do is commit to putting up a new facility, a new office in Mayfield and Dawson and Muhlenberg County. These are areas that we hope the jobs will come back. But you want to talk about providing a huge ray of hope we can work with you and economic development, but talk about seeing a brighter future in front of you. So those looking to help out there that are already planning to put some new facility somewhere really think about the impact that it will have on this community, knowing what might be out there and available to them as they get their home back up as they get their kids back in school, They want to know that there's a good job that they can have 2.2. Director Dawson. Thank you, Governor. And good afternoon. Uh, Let's start with the Warning Slide 1st. So just a little historical reference. Uh, you can see the track here of the tornadoes, and these are the main tracks. Each one of these colored boxes are NWS warnings, and they come in a variety of different patterns. The most severe are obviously tornado warnings are severe weather warnings, and you can see the tracks that they have taken. These began. I'm only showing you the warnings from zero hour, which was somewhere around 8:30 p.m. All the way through the end of the storm track. And during that period alone, there were 92 NWS warnings put out all over the state, and they ranged from right are indicated tornadoes to severe weather to squall lines and flash flooding. So this is the impact area, and how why this was the next slide indicates some of the tracks, and it only indicates to the main tracks the National Weather Service is still looking at the impact. They just upgraded the main storms. Three of the main storms. The main track was now found to be an F4 At 190 mph. That is a remarkably powerful storm. And as you can see the results from all the video and the coverage of ground zero moving into some of the impacts that we are now, we're now working towards So total decorations that are 23 counties that have declared during the storm. Um, and cities are bowling green, Cape City Horse Cave Monthly, Bill Park City, Princeton. This is just a preliminary list, and these are just the data that we have in the system right now. The search and rescue efforts have moved from concentrated efforts to wide area searches, and this is just to ensure that no area has been left untouched. Moving into the power really good news again. And I've talked about this during all of the briefings. The power company is extraordinarily efficient at restoring power. It is just the conditions they find when they enter the state. So currently we have only power outages. At 30 280 connections, I will Tell you that 2000 of those services cannot be restored and they will not be restored for weeks and weeks. And that's a very small area. And most of it is ground zero in Mayfield and some in Dawson Springs. But it's a very low number that will still struggle with, and the generators will certainly be an option. The US Army Corps of Engineers has installed the generator. It's a large generator at Dawson Springs, and that's working Uh, well. We also have good news with Water and power systems. Uh, there are about 2600 service connections with customers at about 18,000 that only have boil water advisories. We have a bit of good news, and it comes slowly, but it's coming in. Dawson Springs Water Treatment Plant At 11 a.m. this morning it was totally restored to power, and that's a big celebration. Next land on cost share, please. So, just a little bit about, um, the relationship and the partnership between Governor Bashir and the president. We've talked about this the day of the event. We were recipients of an emergency declaration. The second day, we received an expedited declaration the third day we added an additional 20 counties. And as we move through the president's visit the paperwork was signed at the state level and sent up through the FEMA level, but had not reached the president yet. And he verbally declared after he sought permission from direct Administrator Chris. Well, the bottom line is this is unprecedented response. He cut through the red tape, and Governor Bashir pushed at the entire way. 100% cost share Is an unusual declaration. It is not uncommon in hurricane events and some tornado events. It lasts for 30 days. It is an immediate Opportunity to get reimbursement for 30 days, and it, uh, involves one of the largest expenses and one of the largest reimbursement opportunities for this entire disaster. And that's the that's debris removal, along with emergency medical, uh, emergency protective measures. So fema is in the on the ground, um, in our hardest hit counties. They currently have 400 personnel on the ground across the Commonwealth in all of the counties that have been hit, and they're expanding that footprint. That would probably be, uh, by early next week there'll be 700 folks of all federal teams famous not the only team on the ground. Uh, and just to name a few of those, um, it is the USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense and including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy and the federal Law Enforcement Bureau. We're getting opportunities and responses from the entire federal umbrella, and that's important to remember. We have requested and been granted what's called a delta food package. This is 30,000 30,000 meals per day, delivered every three days. Uh, and this is the daily output of what? A large area disaster. Uh, and those are being allocated in most of our major cities. So this will go on. This request is has been filed and will go on for 30 days. FEMA also has opened the mobile registration centers. The governor talked to you about those locations, and there are three. Uh, there are three ways you can register, certainly online a telephone number, and then the mobile centers will be announced. We're not giving out all the locations. Currently it takes, uh, it takes a few days for them to travel from other parts of the country. Will be putting many of those mobile centers into the impacted areas, and we'll publish a schedule as soon as it's available. So FEMA is also providing us tarps, cots, generators, infant kits and pandemic shelter along with water. Basically, what happens during this process is famous. Ships from Atlanta are one of their large warehouse areas. Down to Campbell are Wendell Ford. We then take possession of the commodity, and then we move it to a county staging area. And they distributed in pods. It's a very, uh, It's a very succinct process. It works in every disaster. So that is currently underway. We have 10 shelters now open. Uh, they have about 500, uh, 500 of our citizens in there. The Red Cross has provided more than 40 products. two hospitals in the impact areas. The Rubicon slide, please. So this is a success effort, And this is the roofing slide. Um, Team Rubicon response to disasters all over the nation. They respond to state requests and have done so a number of times. But this is unusual request for them because Jeff fired is their c 00. we're good friends from the time that Jeff was, uh leadership in FEMA. He's taken over this position. He actually goes on site so long. And the short of it is, they have Tar Ping Cruz, uh, in our major areas right now, they're in Dawson there in Mayfield, and they're in, um, bowling green. So this is just a photo of one of their crews. They do two types of topping one is an emergency roof topping where you'll see them cover the roof as they're doing now, and the other is salvage topping. Rain's coming, and what they do is they essentially help the homeowner homeowner gather all their belongings and then they tarp all the belongings because many of these residences that were on the Kurdish village of the main impact area, where the entire home is destroyed those that are on the edge have varying different levels of damage. And that includes open rafters, Uh, that some of them can't take tarps so they'll go in and protect all the belongings for temporary periods, and they tarp it all and then wrap it doing great job. So Team Rubicon will be moving to other counties. Um, as we move on, we also have heavy equipment teams out there along with cut and toss teams. Uh, that clear debris. So I'll talk a little bit about iMac support. IMac is the emergency Management assistance Compact. Every state is a member. We have requested a Mac teams from a number of our state partners. This is a routine operation, quite frankly, in the past. And, uh, most of the years that I've been here, we are The state that is sending teams outbound to other states in need in our region are on mhm on both coasts. In this opportunity, Obviously, we have a need. We've advertised iMac missions, and we currently have eight teams responding to the Commonwealth. Some are on the ground. We have I m t teams from Florida. Uh, we also have a volunteer assistance liaison, and that's for donations that will be doing the state overview for donations and commodities. We have teams coming from South Carolina that will will do iMac management from us. An additional teams for a donation support. The National Guard is on the ground, obviously, and they're doing debris removal. Uh, law enforcement augmentation and traffic control and security across our impact counties. So I'd like to finish up with the last slide. You know, there is always some additional problematic news during disasters. This one involves whether that's inbound. So we're looking at a weather event over Western Kentucky, and it includes the Mayfield area. They're experiencing, uh, moderate and light showers right now to six. PM Heavy rain begins at two a.m. Friday morning, and it goes all the way through 10 a.m. And you can see the the outputs there. Uh, the initial part of it is up to fifth, uh, up to half of an inch. And, uh, through Sunday morning all the way through The three day period is up to two inches. That's not what we want. But there's a lot of targeting operations going on. And that concludes my update for today. Thank you, Governor. It's not right that people have had their homes knocked down that are trying to salvage it. Are now having all this rain on top of it. Not right. Alright. Other ways that we're looking to help people. Disaster unemployment assistance application we have sent to the U. S. Department of Labor is pending approval field locations for US services because people aren't going to have a place to go to. To work in many instances for a while are being established at Mayfield. That's at the WalMart location. So the Mayfield, WalMart, the McCracken County Library, the Trigg County Library, the Butler County library, the Hardin County Library and Bowling Green were directly in the GM plant. Four staff started working there on December the 15th, and we're looking at further coordinated locations with fema for better services and deliveries. The teams established are ready to go pending final approvals from the federal government, and we're hoping to streamline the I. D verification process to facilitate claims and get payments. I'm gonna be working on getting a waiver for the waiting week because they'd have to wait a week. I wouldn't get paid from anywhere if their employer has had to lay them off, as well as work search requirements for at least a portion of the coming weeks or months, because we want them to rebuild in that area. We don't want them to leave Mayfield or Dawson or Bremen. Um, and so now these are steps that we need to take. They'll likely have to be done by executive order in the short term. Okay. Um, Kentucky Occupational and Health Compliance staff is in Mayfield to address worker safety and health issues. Wage and hour compliance staff are gonna be working with us d o l. For anything. Uh, that arises. Department of workers' Claims is identified and spoken with two insurers that will be involved with the workers' compensation claims related to the candle factory. Both are accepting claims and thus far are responsive. Two, um, those claims, um, total insurance claims reported as of 10 a.m. today, 9000 100 and 45. It's hard to estimate how many folks are also uninsured. And remember, we have both homeowners and renters that would be potentially insured or uninsured for the value of their home in their belongings Or what is, uh, in there apartment or or or rental unit? Uh, there is the same amount of assistance generally for renters as there is for homeowners from FEMA. Um, and in fact, there are situations where you may qualify for both, depending on what your timeline looks like on rebuilding. Uh, the Department of insurance response teams are being set up in Grace Hopkins, Warrant and Muilenburg. We will update once that comes online, they're going to make sure that these insurance companies are treating people fairly. Let's see, I believe that Maybe, you know, we got a couple of other again things were trying to do to help people. So this week, uh, we were also able, following the federal disaster declaration to get the I. R. S to extend the 2021 tax filing and other deadlines from April 15th to May 16th. And our Kentucky Department of Revenue will honor this special tax relief for individuals and households affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding who reside or have a business in Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muilenburg, Taylor and Warren that allow affected taxpayers until May 16th to file their income taxes and submit payments for individual income tax, corporate income tax They're withholding or the limited liability entity tax means certain deadlines, quarterly payments as well as the one for 2021 income tax returns will be postponed for the affected taxpayers again. I mean, at a time like this, you can't expect people to have the documentation needed, And so we're extending those deadlines. The president's federal disaster declaration also makes Kentucky INS in those eight counties eligible for a refund of Kentucky sales and use tax paid on the purchase of building materials permanently installed in the repair or replacement of structure damages in the eight counties covered by the disaster declaration. So as you're rebuilding, Uh, if you are directly paying for building supplies, make sure you document those you could get up to $6,000 in relief from sales tax per building. Um, we'll put this out by a separate press release. Um, we're increasing, Um, and this is within the state to qualified residential treatment care programs that serve Children that have been struggling during covid. Uh, these are places like like Mary Hearst and others. We have found a way to increase the funds that are provided to them, uh, to help them as they are making it through this pandemic. Uh, some were struggling so much they were looking at shutting down. We'll have the direct information, um, in the release. Uh huh. We are hurting. We're still hurting. Um, and it continues to be very painful, but we are not broken. We are not broken. You know what it feels like it. We will. We will clear this chaos and death from our towns. And we will rebuild our structures and our lives. Just like every person I talked to yesterday, the day before the day before that. The day before that, including on Saturday. I'm not going anywhere in this state is not going anywhere. We got a great commitment from the federal government that they are going to be with us too. Every step, every week, every month, and every year that it takes, we will get each one of these communities rebuilt. This is very personal to me. We're gonna make sure that it happens. Alright, with that, we'll open it up to questions. I think we have four journalists here and a bunch on the line. So let's start with Tom. Thank you. two Things. Nothing came to mind. Is state going to be developing a website with all this information? You gave a lot of things on a lot of different topic. We should, um it's a great suggestion. Um, we're building this airplane while we're flying it, but we're gonna We should centralize all this information. What's available to an individual that's been through the horrific. And then we need to get it out in in paper, to to some of the facilities out there to help them. As we move forward as much as we can on some of this stuff, I hope we can set up in one location. It's just There's not one big location left and most of these places, and there's so many people helping. I mean, We got 1200 garden state employees and you look at 10,000 people, typically in Mayfield and 30 700 and Dawson 370 and Bremen and then put all the FEMA people on top and all the rest we have. We have about as many people helping as we do that live in these places, and God bless him like my main question was, I see you issue an executive order on livestock. Yeah, Describe, Yeah, so So there is a statute of regulation about the amount of time that you have, uh, to to, uh, do away with, uh, clean up to destroy dead livestock. It's primarily dealing with disease, and we think it probably only applies to that. But there was concern that it could apply in this situation as well. And there are so many ah, dead livestock that we know it's going to take more time. We are listening directly to our farmers. We know that there's gonna be some long term needs to. It's a farming community, you know. Where do they get their feet from? Who do they typically sell to? What have the loss has been there. So one of the early calls I made was that we needed USDA on the ground, and the federal government sped up How quickly that happened. Uh, still working through all the rest of the needs, working directly with judges and and their folks. We're going to find a solution to every concern. Caroline, the number of people missing has dramatically gone down, which is great. Does this help the state kind of figure out where our death toll will stand? Or is there really no to figure that out at this point? So every day that passes, the range of our death toll becomes more certain and the likelihood that we will have significantly more death lessons. Um, I am hearing at least rumors that we will add one today, Um, and perhaps someone unexpected. Our number missing requires someone report them missing. And so there may be more that are that are out there. I hope, um, that additional deaths that we see will be in single digits. That could come from people that we find. And it could also come from people who are currently hospitalized, though every day that passes that the number doesn't go up or go up significantly as a good day. All considered, Uh, certainly as we get, uh, now some some pretty close to certainty on the candle factory. Um, that means our tall is first, much less then I thought it would be. I thought we were gonna lose about as many people in the factories we have overall. Um, So So it's I think I think we're getting closer and closer to what that final number will be. Phil. Governor, do you have any thoughts, litigation and filed factory the allegation. Okay. You know, on them, no litigation has been filed in the in the candle factory, but I don't have any, uh, independent knowledge of any of the allegations that are there. Um, I did see it, and I've never seen anything like the total wreckage and steel and big trucks that I say They're on the roof. The roof wasn't there. Um, by the time I got there and this is just out an hour after daylight, it must have been eight, It's it's hard when you're trying to take it in backhoes and heavy equipment, trying to pull things off of it. I mean it. It's a miracle. We only lost eight. I don't know what happened in there that night. I do know it was hit directly by one of the most powerful tornadoes I think we'll ever see on record. Lawrence. First, a quick clarification to 75 number of the day. Is that one more than yesterday? What about yesterday? Yes, it adds that individual in bowling green that is reported to have had a heart attack in the cleanup. We heard the president's public comments. Can you give us some insight into the private conversations you had about what hit Kentucky? Uh, the President. I was very caring from the moment that he landed. I think he from our private conversations to things, uh, we're clear, uh, number one that he genuinely cares. Uh, and that was evident. And it was evident when he had a secret Service was trying to get him to go this way. And there's a family over that way. And, um, it was it was absolutely clear in second, uh, that there is There is a full commitment by the federal government even to do things that they've never done before to help us. Uh, we have gotten a yes on virtually everything that we've asked for, and and the speed at which we've gotten them is is incredible. So to him, to our FEMA administrator, to our secretary of homeland Security and everybody in between, the federal response could not be better than it has been our cross. Thank you, Governor. I was quite an eventful day yesterday, and aside from getting 100% federal funding for 30 days, uh, what other surprises did you have yesterday? Uh, so So, um, first, there were really tough moments yesterday. I had not been able to get that far back in a Dawson Springs, and it was even worse than I could tell. And it it was painful. Um, but to also see the number of people that would say that they are blessed to be alive. Um, was was pretty special. And remember, in this I mean eight blocks in any direction, nothing standing. Everybody that is sorting through the rubble knows each other. And it's a I said before, it just I mean, the trauma kind of seeps into your skin. But I will say that having the president there and and especially in Mayfield created an energy. And you know what? I was just happy for one day because it had been, what, five or six days for just one day since this happened that there seemed to be this really positive energy that the president of the United States was there. I'm not sure I expected to feel that, Um and you can see it on people's faces. Uh, there's a woman who said he's in Mayfield, and I think that was that was the feeling. Now whether or not you voted for him or you voted for for for me um, we're both trying to do our very best for you. And I could absolutely see that the president coming to Mayfield at the Dawson Springs. I never thought I said yesterday. I never thought I'd get to introduce the president of the United States. I never thought I'd get him to Dawson Springs, but by God, I wish it was for for different reasons. Uh, Jack Brammer, Herald Leader. Yeah. Yes. A governor of the 138 Kentucky ins. injured Bir. Did most of them occur? Do you have a county by county breakdown of the injured? And you know how many were injured in the Mayfield candle factory? I think that the The last number I had is that there were 17 people hospitalized from the Mayfield candle factory. I do not have the And that was yesterday. I think I got that information. If I got it the day before, I apologize. It's all, um it's been a lot the last couple of days. Um, Generally Hopkins County Area 21 of those. I think we had one person in Kenton and Logan Graves County area. We we It's so people would be transferred. Um, probably two. 24. Those would be there 26 52 ish, I think, in the Graves County extended area. Those include hospitals In in Paducah. Uh, Taylor regional had at least 12 um, who were there if not 13 1 in Frankfurt here. You know, one in Georgetown, five in Owensboro. So this made impacts in different places. Well, let me back up 20 to our down at Vanderbilt and six in Union City, Tennessee. So Add another 30 on two. It's over 100 from Graves County, I think, is what we're pretty close to. The Hopkins and Greg's are close enough to wear. You could also be transferring some people who are hurting Dawson down to down the Vanderbilt. That's the best I can do, Jack. Karen's are. Thank you. Governor. Governor, could you talk a little bit more about unemployment? There are already people online who are worried, saying they're afraid they're going to end up in some endless loop like we saw in the pandemic. Is there anything you can say to ease their concerns? I'm thank you. I'm going to say we're going to have people in person in each of these calories, processing your claims in front of you. We're going to get it done. We're absolutely going to get it done. Piper Hudspeth, Blackburn Associated Press. Mm. Um hello. Thank you, Governor. Um, my question has to do with clean up. Um, tick. It's Karen stars, so I still can you hear me? I don't see my name on the Okay. Good. Um, yeah. So how long is this initial stage of cleanup supposed to last? And what do you say to those? Those Kentucky and you sort of feel like the damage is insurmountable. And it might last forever. Like, um, thank you. Yeah. The cleanup is going to take time, depending on the structure, Uh, that we're talking about. And if you've seen it, it'll it'll take at least weeks. If we can do it in weeks, it will be incredible. I I believe that we'll be hauling debris out of some of these locations for up to a month. Director. Any other thoughts? Okay, Director Dawson. So thank you for the question. Um, this is going to be one of the largest pieces of the recovery. Uh, in fact, as I leave this briefing, I'm going back into a meeting with FEMA and our other federal partners to flesh out the removal plan. We're going to hold Webinars in the next days, possibly one. Tomorrow we'll announce that debris removal is one of the most important pieces because this is part and parcel to rebuilding not just the city infrastructure, but for all of our homeowners. So you'll hear more about this. But again, please allow us to manage expectations. This is a long, long recovery and the process to put all the programs on the road. As you can see from the governor relationship with the president, the actual personnel are on the ground immediately, and they're all working in that direction. So we're moving very quickly. The plan will be announced very shortly, and then, after the plan has announced, counties in the state and the federal government will all come together, they'll be contractors that each county can engage. We also have federal assets and state assets that are working towards that from being on the ground. It also depends on which which place we're talking about. Bremen had, uh, dump trucks up and down the road. They were able to bring in from Muhlenberg County, already loading up a huge death toll. Given the population of the area, fewer structures overall, uh, in the city, they're they're they're debris removal is gonna go a lot faster than, um Dawson, which is huge numbers of homes may feel, which is huge numbers of homes and really big government buildings. Um, so it is. It is ongoing, Uh, and and a lot of it will depend on the level of resources as they continue. We're gonna have every resource from the state. We're gonna have every resource from the federal government. We've got a lot of great volunteers that are out there right now, too. Debby Yetter, Courier Journal From the governor. If I could ask about COVID-19 for a minute. Uh, with coach with omicron spreading rapidly in more than 30 states now, has it been identified in Kentucky? And are you all worried about spread in this area affected by the tornado with people possibly more crowded together, routines disrupted and so forth? Yes. Worried about spread, uh, in the area of the tornado. Uh, one of the reasons we're trying to get people out of a shelter and into a state park is we can create a little more distance. We can also give them a room of their own. I have not been notified of our first case of a macron, but it's here. Um it's unquestionably here. Uh, it's It's already everywhere, and and the speed is significant that it doubles in the question of what it's going to lead to all depends on the level of infection and some questions that we don't yet know. Uh, first, they're trying to figure out exactly how much faster it spreads than Delta. It appears to spread faster and how resistant it is to what level of vaccination. So those are two questions for how many people will get it. Other set of questions is, How sick does it make you? Because you know it can. It can still do a lot of damage, even if it makes you half a sick but infects twice as many people. And so it's gonna be, uh, those two levers that that will ultimately, um, tell us where we're going. Also, the amount of therapeutics and and vaccinations and boosters we're getting right now will impact that as well. I mean, it looks like you had both shots and a booster. If you get, uh, you're less likely to get it, and if you get it, you're probably going to be okay. I can't imagine that having both shots uh, won't put you in a better place if you get it about how sick you get in whatever spectrum of of how deadly or how sick that it makes you. If you are unvaccinated, he's probably gone through Delta. It's been awful, and it looks like this thing could come right along behind it and reinfect you so I mean, please get vaccinated. Um, if you've had Delta, I hope that it that it provides some level of immunity to you. But after what you've been through, why in the world risk that if you can get a series of, uh, shots that ultimately help you out? Karen Boyer W E K U Hi, Governor. You mentioned a couple of challenges authorities are facing, like FEMA going door to door to houses that are no longer standing and the need for family members of people who are missing to submit D N A. How are authorities responding to those challenges? And then there's some concern among communities about people who are undocumented staying in state parks. Is that a concern? They should have thank you. Anybody who lost their homes, we want to have a place to stay. Listen I I If somebody has got kids and all of a sudden have absolutely no place to stay, I want them to have a roof over their head. So we're gonna help people out of state parks. They lost their home, Uh, how we're responding to the to the challenges. We continue to spread the word, which is the main way, um, to family members and across the region. Um, spreading it across the state is really helpful to as they check in on people. Uh, his house ministries. Uh, not only can they can also take phone calls about missing individuals, as can sheriff's offices and others throughout the region. Uh, so, you know, we just we know there are likely some other folks out there. We want to know about as many of them as possible. Most likely that person that you think is missing is okay, but we can connect you to them. What was the other challenge we'll get you? We'll get you, uh, an additional response if you need one. Hanna Saad, The Paducah Sun. Thank you, Governor. Um, I was just speaking with some of the residents in Mayfield, and I was wondering if There's any statewide initiative to help folks who maybe lost their cars or don't have ways to get out to resources if they live kind of our way. Is there any statewide? Are you aware of any private organizations that are providing transportation assistance? We're working on that piece in the first several days. Our goal was safety Security. Um, planning. Uh, but, yes, transportation is going to be important if you see what this thing did. The cars, um, they're most likely not gonna be salvageable either. I do know that there are adjusters. If you are ensured that our on site that are there, we do want to try to streamline that, though. Four people and then we've had folks reaching out about other things that they can do to help. We're gonna be trying to connect some of those resources. Certainly we can title a new or a used vehicle for folks as they replace it at any of these facilities that we're setting up. These folks don't have a driver's license, likely their last car title. They're going to need to turn it in. They're gonna need a new one as well. So that point is well taken and transportation. Right now, we've used school Busses to get people from shelters to state parks. Last question. Grace McKenna, wh s 11. Sorry about that, Governor. I'd like to give it back to Covid for a quick moment if we could, you know, coming up on the holiday season. I know we were all concerned about surges during the holidays last year. Could you talk about the role of the booster? Um, you know, in helping to prevent some of those surges, Especially as we see Omar Khan started to spread. Inevitably, people speculate mention Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful special time where we celebrate a life, Uh, and and life itself, uh, salvation. What is good in mankind? The hope. And then we we have a new year, uh, where we make resolutions to be Better. Where where there are new chances. They are supposed to be wonderful, hopeful, life affirming holidays. And last year they were deadly. We lost a lot of Kentucky ins through the spread of COVID-19 during those holidays this year we don't have to. Last year you couldn't be fully vaccinated. Um, or it would have been very hard to be fully vaccinated by Christmas this year. Everybody can be. And this year we have a booster as well, because waning immunity is real. I believe the largest single factor and what type of search that we are going to see over the holidays and and into the beginning of the year is how many people get their booster. If you do it, you're pretty well protected. You'll free up that hospital capacity if it comes in a crunch that others will need. So please four of the holiday season. If you haven't gotten vaccinated, go get vaccinated. Even if it's your first shot, go ahead and get it. It'll help. If you've been fully vaccinated and it's time for your booster. Go get it. Don't wait until after the holidays go get it as quickly as you can, and then just think about the way you're You're holding your holiday gathering. If everybody is vaccinated, if everybody is boosted and those that aren't really consider masks while you're inside and close together, that protects everyone and maybe just have a slightly smaller gathering than you did last year. Listen, we can do that safely. We wear a mask in a gathering. If it's needed, we can. We can have a slightly smaller gathering, cause you know what? We're pretty blessed. Especially when you look at a whole bunch of people that don't have homes in Western Kentucky. So you know, everybody just try to protect one another. And we've seen horrific loss of life. We've seen destruction at a level nobody has ever seen. So I see the outpouring of love. Take care of each other and, well, we'll continue to update on on services on on loss of life and on how we are going to dig out. We're not broken. We will rebuild and we'll get through it and we'll get through it together. Thank you. Mhm.

Kentucky tornadoes: 75 confirmed dead, 16 unaccounted for

Updated: 2:53 PM EST Dec 16, 2021

Seventy-five people are dead and 16 remain unaccounted for after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes tore through Kentucky.At least five tornadoes struck the area, the most catastrophic traveling more than 200 miles across the state, leaving a path of devastation.In his latest update, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he anticipates the death toll of 75 people to rise again by at least one person Thursday.Of the 75 killed, 12 are children. Their ages range from 2 months to 98 years old.One of these deaths is someone who died while removing debris in Warren County.The number of Kentuckians unaccounted for is down from more than 100 to 16."The missing appears to be down to 16. That is good news," Beshear said.Of the 16 unaccounted for, 15 are from Hopkins County.The governor emphasized that the number of those unaccounted for is only those who have been reported missing. Regarding those injured, Beshear said 138 Kentuckians were taken to the emergency room during or after the storms.The details on how many remain or their condition are unknown at this time, Beshear said. The governor's update comes one day after President Joe Biden toured the catastrophic damage left behind.Biden pledged even more disaster aid, saying the federal government will cover 100% of the tornado recovery efforts for the first 30 days.PHOTOS: President Joe Biden surveys Kentucky tornado damageThe president will pay for the next 30 days of cleanup from the devastating storms, Biden said, which includes everything from trash removal and first responder overtime pay."I promise you: You're going to heal. We're going to recover. We're going to rebuild and you're going to be stronger than you were before. We're going to build back better than it was," he said. A catastrophic EF4 tornado touched down in western Kentucky, National Weather Service officials confirmed Wednesday, the second most intense designation a tornado can receive.Officials with the National Weather Service said following a lengthy storm survey, a portion of the long-track tornado from Fulton County to Muhlenberg County in western Kentucky will be given a preliminary damage rating of EF4.It's the highest designation given thus far during the tornado outbreak Friday night into Saturday morning. Others have been classified — preliminarily — as EF1 or EF2 storms.Since 1950, there have only been 19 EF4 tornadoes in the United States during the last month of the year. The last EF4 tornado to strike the U.S. during the month of December was during the Christmas outbreak of December 2015.RELATED: Tornado tore through 200 miles of Kentucky. Here's its pathThe storms left hundreds of miles of destruction, wiping away more than 1,000 homes. Cars were tossed and trees were snapped in half. The city of Mayfield, Kentucky, was hit particularly hard.That's where Biden made his first stop Wednesday afternoon."I was asked 'What is the most impressive thing you've seen?' I started off thinking in damage. Then, I said 'The way you all come together,'" Biden told leaders in Mayfield.Kentucky tornadoes: 12 children among 74 confirmed deadHe also expressed how the state will continue to get support from the federal government."Don't hesitate to ask for anything. If we can't do it, we'll tell you we can't, and we'll tell you from experience how you can maybe get it done-- if you can’t get it done through the federal way," he told leaders.Workers, volunteers and members of the National Guard fanned out in areas of Kentucky slammed by a series of tornadoes to begin the long process of recovery, including replacing thousands of damaged utility poles, delivering bottles of drinking water and continuing to search for the dead.Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.“With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives,” the governor said.Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage. Still, efforts turned to repair the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering supplies. Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, including nearly all of those in Mayfield. Currently, 3,200 homes remain without power, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. Out of the 3,200, two thousand won't be able to have power restored for weeks due to damage.

MAYFIELD, Ky. —

Seventy-five people are dead and 16 remain unaccounted for after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes tore through Kentucky.

At least five tornadoes struck the area, the most catastrophic traveling more than 200 miles across the state, leaving a path of devastation.

In his latest update, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he anticipates the death toll of 75 people to rise again by at least one person Thursday.

Of the 75 killed, 12 are children. Their ages range from 2 months to 98 years old.

One of these deaths is someone who died while removing debris in Warren County.

The number of Kentuckians unaccounted for is down from more than 100 to 16.

"The missing appears to be down to 16. That is good news," Beshear said.

Of the 16 unaccounted for, 15 are from Hopkins County.

The governor emphasized that the number of those unaccounted for is only those who have been reported missing.

Regarding those injured, Beshear said 138 Kentuckians were taken to the emergency room during or after the storms.

The details on how many remain or their condition are unknown at this time, Beshear said.

The governor's update comes one day after President Joe Biden toured the catastrophic damage left behind.

Biden pledged even more disaster aid, saying the federal government will cover 100% of the tornado recovery efforts for the first 30 days.

PHOTOS: President Joe Biden surveys Kentucky tornado damage

The president will pay for the next 30 days of cleanup from the devastating storms, Biden said, which includes everything from trash removal and first responder overtime pay.

"I promise you: You're going to heal. We're going to recover. We're going to rebuild and you're going to be stronger than you were before. We're going to build back better than it was," he said.

A catastrophic EF4 tornado touched down in western Kentucky, National Weather Service officials confirmed Wednesday, the second most intense designation a tornado can receive.

Officials with the National Weather Service said following a lengthy storm survey, a portion of the long-track tornado from Fulton County to Muhlenberg County in western Kentucky will be given a preliminary damage rating of EF4.

It's the highest designation given thus far during the tornado outbreak Friday night into Saturday morning. Others have been classified — preliminarily — as EF1 or EF2 storms.

Since 1950, there have only been 19 EF4 tornadoes in the United States during the last month of the year. The last EF4 tornado to strike the U.S. during the month of December was during the Christmas outbreak of December 2015.

RELATED: Tornado tore through 200 miles of Kentucky. Here's its path

The storms left hundreds of miles of destruction, wiping away more than 1,000 homes. Cars were tossed and trees were snapped in half. The city of Mayfield, Kentucky, was hit particularly hard.

That's where Biden made his first stop Wednesday afternoon.

"I was asked 'What is the most impressive thing you've seen?' I started off thinking in damage. Then, I said 'The way you all come together,'" Biden told leaders in Mayfield.

Kentucky tornadoes: 12 children among 74 confirmed dead

He also expressed how the state will continue to get support from the federal government.

"Don't hesitate to ask for anything. If we can't do it, we'll tell you we can't, and we'll tell you from experience how you can maybe get it done-- if you can’t get it done through the federal way," he told leaders.

Workers, volunteers and members of the National Guard fanned out in areas of Kentucky slammed by a series of tornadoes to begin the long process of recovery, including replacing thousands of damaged utility poles, delivering bottles of drinking water and continuing to search for the dead.

Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.

“With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives,” the governor said.

Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage. Still, efforts turned to repair the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering supplies.

Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, including nearly all of those in Mayfield.

Currently, 3,200 homes remain without power, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. Out of the 3,200, two thousand won't be able to have power restored for weeks due to damage.