i'm from dawson springs, kentucky, which is in west kentucky. some of the towns you're hearing mayfield which isn't far, western kentucky and if you go east you'll hear the names of towns. one is dawson springs. and it's a small rural city. you know, dotted around west kentucky you have little towns and dawson is one of them. my dad is there, my sister, my aunt and several cousins. i made contact with most of them. but apparently widespread damage, buildings completely destroyed. roofs off of houses. and certainly some people at least injured if not worse based on what i heard from a law enforcement source down there. so i think what you're going to see as daybreaks here in kentucky is that some of these small towns where you don't hear their names very often but they're tight knit communities were absolutely devastated last night. >> i'm glad your family seems to be doing okay. boris a few moments ago spoke with the mayor in monette, arkansas a very small town, saying they had at least 15, 20-minute lead time. that's when the warning sirens wen

kentucky state parks. we're offering minimum two-week stays to those that don't have a place to call their own at the moment. i want to provide room availability as of 1:00 p.m. today. kentucky dam village, still 30 rooms available for families. ken lake state resort park, 58 rooms available. and we also have hook-up outlets that can be used for washers and dryers and we'll accept donations of those to help people out. and the park will accept donations to help the people that they are helping out. the first lady in just a little bit is going to have some good news with our state parks where we're going to try to lift up the people staying there. lake barkley, we're awaiting electricity to be restored. when that happens we'll open up 56 additional rooms. but even with the lights not going, the park hosted a blood drive today. so thank you. barron river has 30 rooms available. john james, one cottage available. penny rile is full. that's right near dawson. wpa project is where my grandparents met. then the

. >>> tonight from mayfield, kentucky, the deadliest tornado outbreak in years. the loss of life and property absolutely devastating. ♪ ♪ >> across six states, death and destruction. entire neighborhoods in this kentucky city completely leveled the death toll rising across the state >> it may, ifact, end up exceeding 100 before the day is done >> dozens feared killed when a candle factory was demolished, terrifying stories from those trapped inside. >> god, please, send us some help. >> who somehow survived the tornadoes also taking lives in tennessee, arkansas and illinois where the roof collapsed in on an amazon warehouse. >> this will be ongoing for the next several days >> president biden rushing in federal resources. >> this is likely to be one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history. >> the most deadly tornado believed to have torn through 200 miles across four states, one of the furthest ever recorded tonight, the search for those still missing, stunned survivors now without homes as communities across multiple states face unthinkable loss. >>

kentucky. one of the areas we know hit particularly hard. this is downtown, one of the governmental buildings there completely destroyed or at least partially destroyed, i should say, by this powerful, powerful tornado. and this is the same tornado that moved through arkansas. so we believe this could potentially be the united states' first quad-state tornado. that traveled across arkansas, parts of missouri, tennessee and kentucky, traversing over 250 miles. if verified that will be the longest single-track tornado in u.s. history. that dates back to the tristate tornado back in 1925. so where is this threat going? well, we've got a computer model that takes into consideration all of the current elements within the atmosphere. and we believe that the tornado threat will begin to diminish in the coming hours. in the next three to six hours, things will improve. but we still have the severe lines of strong winds pressing through portions of tennessee and kentucky. you can see the storm predictio

folks, 200 of those miles were in kentucky. we are ground zero, and i know this community is hit, it's been hit really hard. we are with you. the whole state is with you. it's about just before midnight last night that we signed -- i signed a state of emergency that allowed us to call up the national guard, now hundreds deploying all over kentucky to help. to help going door to door, see if we can find people. to help clearing the roadways and, yes, to help in law enforcement and some towns that aren't going to have any power tonight. we have been able to get our transportation cabinet with all of our heavy trucks out on the roads, clearing them off because it's hard to reach people in need when the roads are unpassable. our division of forestry is out there helping with that as well. finding any and everything we can do, including bringing some of the largest generators we've ever seen to some of these communities where they can power a school. a hospital. where it is needed. since our last stop, there are two new announcement

western kentucky. there's approximately around 200 people who have utilized those shelters thus far. and then we are going to also offer them -- they're being fed in those shelters. but we also offer emotional and spiritual care. we have volunteers that that's their professional wheelhouse and they volunteer for red cross because we understand that it is a wholeness approach that when you suffer something like this, it is more than just shelter and food you need. you need that emotional and spiritual care. we want to make sure that you have that as well. so that's the immediate need that we're meeting. and then we assess them, what is it you need? do you need your medicine, do you need your medical equipment? and we're trained to go and make sure that we get those things to them that they have to have immediately. and then we walk this out with them until they get back to a place of restoration. >> well, thank you for doing everything you're doing because, boy, when you walk around this place, the need

that's what you have here in this part of kentucky, in west kentucky, people that have a sense of community pride. they want to rebuild. we're going to be there cooperating on the state, federal and, of course, the local levels. thank you. >> thank you. >> next up we have the national guard, which has been so critical these last 18, 19 months in so many different ways. we call on them to do so much. most recently they were helping to staff our overrun hospitals at a time when we desperately needed help. every community they are in, the morale picks up and we know they are there and we are going to make it. here's the general to give us an update. >> thank you, sir. currently the kentucky national guard has slightly over 300 soldiers and airmen on duty. they are operating in the state, and we are searching search and rescue, rap clearance and providing air support and airlifts. we continue to anticipate the needs and we continue to process requests from the kentucky operations center. as always we are always proud to serve to serve the commune wealth and the kentuckians. >> finally, we have

the kentucky red cross, you can go to redcross.org/local/kentucky. i'm da >> building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. >> effective from the 15th of december to january 15, we will require universal masking in indoor public settings. >> the indoor mask mandate returns, california officials announce plans to require them once more starting this wednesday. >> and we're in storm watch as heavy winds and rains move across the area. it's downed treed a -- trees and knocked over trees. dan: rain is still coming down across the bay area. we have team coverage on the storm and we'll begin with spencer. spencer: it's been a stormy day, the storm continues to rage on across the bay area. let me give you a close up look at some of the areas hard hit right now. over in vaccaville, down over to rio vista, looking a little farther south, around san leandro, castro valley, we have a wide area of heavy rain, reaching over to danville and points along interstate 680. and over on the pens lasm we have heavy down tour prs -- dow

especially in mayfield, kentucky. houses, offices, places of worship, all once stood here where you're looking on the screen. now, they don't. nearby hospitals are treating patients with chemical burns and crush injuries. crews have rescued 40 people from what's left of a candle factory where 110 people were working when the storm hit. the governor saying it will be a miracle if anyone else is foun

so, we're making our way to mayfield, kentucky. we're here now, we're just around the corner from the candle factory, as you might imagine, it's slow going through. there are not a lot of people out that we can tell, but there was definitely a storm that made its way through here. and whenever you come to an area after a tornado, you can see the path pretty quickly, as you just heard from allison chinchar there, she talked about how wide the storm was. and how it was so -- impacting so many areas. and that's something that we're going to see first hand, once we arrive on scene. boris, amara. >> this is a very urgent situation right now. at least until mayfield, kentucky, at this candle factory. we know right now on the ground rescue efforts are under way. bodies and people are being pulled, according to storm chaser michael gordon, who boris just spoke with a few moments ago. and we also know that all assets, this is according to the kentucky director of emergency management michael dossett, he says that all assets are heading towa

let's see, kentucky's most recent covid report showed hospital ic capacity strained in far western kentucky. how are hospitals handling injuries? the hospitals are in good shape. they are responding well. one, we were concerned about power and our issues so they were transferring patients, but we are not concerned at the moment of hospital capacity and certainly we have other professionals coming to help. okay. we're good on live questions. now you want me to go through the list? all right. first, i think we have -- if i've answered your question already, kfvs-12, roger? >> governor, what can you tell us about the time line of mayfield and the area in western kentucky? >> can you ask it again? my audio was bad on the first part. >> sure. what is your time line for getting help and aid to the people in mayfield and fulton county in western kentucky? >> help is on the way right now. now this morning they are going to see the national guard, the transportation cabinet, the division of forestry. they're going to see those trucks filled with water pull in. later today they'll see teams of other

i want _ kentucky was lost in this tornado. i want folks— kentucky was lost in this tornado. i want folks in all of the states to know _ want folks in all of the states to know that — want folks in all of the states to know that we are going to get through— know that we are going to get through this together, and the federal— through this together, and the federal government is not going to walk away. this is one of those times— walk away. this is one of those times when we are not democrats or republicans. sounds like hyperbole but republicans. sounds like hyperbole hut it— republicans. sounds like hyperbole hut it is— republicans. sounds like hyperbole but it is real, we are all americans, we stand together as a united _ americans, we stand together as a united states of america and i say to ali— united states of america and i say to all the — united states of america and i say to all the victims you're in our prayers, — to all the victims you're in our prayers, and all of those first responders and emergency personnel and everyone helping their fellow ame

he is here in dawson springs kentucky -- springs, kentucky because we are hurting. i am so thankful for the unwavering support of our federal delegation. i am so thankful for the president: i said yes to every ask i've made and now he will have news about another ask i have made. the federal government is not just here, not just doing things we have never seen before, but is fully behind every single family that has suffered any loss. on behalf of brittany and i to the people of kentucky, we love you. i never thought in my life i would be able to introduce up residence, and i wish there were different circumstances, but i am still very honored to be able to introduce a president in my dad's hometown, president joe biden. [applause] pres. biden: thank you. i went to introduce you to a new friend of mine. this is dane. they live down the street. he has cousins who are altogether, and one cousin, i do not know where she is. there she is. coming up here, honey. she is about to graduate from u.k. on friday, and i just want you to meet them. i got a chance to hang out wit

she's live in mayfield, kentucky. and, brynn, that collapsed candle factory, officials have described it as a ground zero for this tragedy. bring us up to speed where things stand at that site. >> reporter: yeah. in fact, boris, we're about a mile or so from that candle factory. we can't even get there because it is a search and recovery effort at this point. but where i'm standing here is what i'm sure you have been seeing as you entered mayfield. all these homes destroyed. and would you believe it? this particular home we actually spoke to the woman who survived this home by being in a closet and by the grace of god her nephew was able to rescue her by throwing bricks off her because her chimney collapsed on her. these stories are pretty miraculous. i want you to hear about another one that just happened down the street from here. an entire family taking shelter in a crawl space. listen to this emotional sound. >> me and our daughter were sitting on that pallet. this door here is what kept us alive basically along w

we've opened kentucky. damn village can like, like barclays, that is in this region. baron river and rough river, which can help the people of bowling green. and audubon, which can help the folks in muhlenberg county. we already have a $104.00 adults and 2 kids, a penny rile itself and the people of dolphin springs town, that half of which is leveled its, opened the 1st responders and volunteers as well. and let me thank all of them every single one for what they are are doing. they've helped us clear roads and, and ultimately to have even knocked on doors where they stand to check on people. we want to thank the rest of the country for your attention, for your help, and for your prayers. we've needed them and we're still hoping as we move forward for some miracles, to find more people and hopefully have a lower death count than what we expect. i wish i understood why we've gotten hit with the pandemic historic ice storm flooding and now the worst tornado in our history, all in a span of 19 month. what i do

that's what you have in this part of kentucky and west kentucky people to have a sense of community pride and they want to rebuild and were gonna be there cooperating on the state and federal and local levels. thank you. >> accept the national guard which is been so critical the last 18 or 19 months and somebody different ways. we call on them to do so much they were helping our staff to overrun hospitals at a time when we desperately needed help every community there in the overall picks up window when there there. here is general to give us an update. >> thank you's are purely currently the kentucky national guard as a governor mentioned on duty were operating the nine kentucky counties one of six or here in graves county we are pouring missions search and rescue in air support and airlift. we continue to anticipate the needs and the process request of the operations center. as always were proud to serve the common wealth and power kentuckians. thank you. >> this person i give unto when i got on scene, the mayor here when i first got to talk to her censuses happen we were standing outsi

the people of kentucky, my heart goes _ the people of kentucky, my heart goes out — the people of kentucky, my heart goes out to — the people of kentucky, my heart goes out to each _ the people of kentucky, my heart goes out to each and _ the people of kentucky, my heart goes out to each and everyone i the people of kentucky, my heart goes out to each and everyone of| the people of kentucky, my heart - goes out to each and everyone of you who have _ goes out to each and everyone of you who have experienced _ goes out to each and everyone of you who have experienced the _ goes out to each and everyone of you who have experienced the tragic - who have experienced the tragic events— who have experienced the tragic events from _ who have experienced the tragic events from these _ who have experienced the tragic events from these tornadoes. . you

kentucky. he said they haven't really pulled out. he went out successfully since around 3 in the morning. that does not bode well, that they're going to be able to find more, but it is possible because we're looking at not just factories that have been leveled. we're talking about businesses and homes in that town of mayfield. it doesn't look like there's a whole lot left. it wasn't that big of a town to begin with, just about $10000.00 residents. so what they'll do now is bill or here and organized search parties much he's gonna hurricane. they'll go door to door to see if anyone needs be pulled from the rebel. then the federal government and the national guard are going to be mobilized. they are being mobilized as we speak for fema, the federal emergency management agency. their focus is going to be getting trailers down there because they're going to need places to live. there weren't any places to get heat when you see tornadoes like this because they're so big and so powerful . it's not li

we feel your love here in kentucky. the team western kentucky tornado relief fund, now 31,279 donations, over $4 million raised into it thus far. do we have the website? those that would like to help us, that is team wky relief fund.k fund.ky.gov. it will be fully transparent on how it will be spent. today we're announcing the first expenditure. we'll be providing $5,000 in burial expenses for each family that has lost a loved one. we are going to ask the funeral home or group helping out to not charge the families beyond that $5 $5,000. we have to be able to grieve together and no one has to apply. we'll work with our vital statistics group, for everyone who has been identified, and we'll work to reach out and contact those families directly. right now we think we have about 30,000 kentucky homes that are without power. significant debris removal is going on right now. but there is just a mountain of waste and it will take a significant amount of time. we've got significant livestock dead in all of the areas. there is

more than 70 people are feared dead in kentucky. after tornadoes sweep across sick states destroying homes, factories and warehouses for ministers from the g. 7 nations are urged to show unity against global aggressors as they meet in the u. k. uganda and congolese military say they've captured the adf rebels, destroyed camps and fried hostages, but many a still wary of the joint offensive. and the eldest daughter of pioneering us astro allen shepherd bloss off on the latest space tourism flight. aboard a rocket named off an arm sana, how much was sport, max for staff, and claims that pull position ahead of louis hamilton for the seas. and defining on p in our dubey and at the fee for our cup here in cutter. egypt to book a day that was in india in the semi finals, ah clone. welcome to the news our, our top story. a devastating series of tornadoes has ripped through 6 us states. and what a president joe biden has called an unimaginable tragedy. he's rushing federal assistance to the worst it places like kentucky, where the governor

merry christmas, kentucky. make it special for these kids and families that have been through so much and so them that we'll be with them every step of the way. >> all right. if dealing with all of this -- thank you. if dealing with this is not enough, why have a pandemic that is continuing. it continuing to take lives of kentuckians. as an update, every monday, we start with saturday, sunday and monday's numbers and goo through some of the rest. 2,308 new cases on saturday. with 55 new deaths -- >> neil: we're continuing to monitor this. kentucky governor andy beshear and his wife playing a role in the recovery and help kids effort here. the governor though sharing some rather tragic news here that the count of those killed as a result of these storms has now increased to 74 dead. we also know of at least 109 unaccounted for in the state of kentucky alone. the governor fears that that could be significantly higher when the final numbers are in, that they don't just add up county by county. it could be higher t

we feel your love here in kentucky. the team kentucky, team western kentucky tornado relief fund 31,279 donations, over $4 million raised into it thus far. do we have the website? those that would like to help us, that's teamwkyrelieffund.ky.gov. this is a fund associated with the state. it's going to be fully transparent on how it is spent. there will be no administrative fees taken out of it. all of is it going to go to help these families. today, we're announcing the first expenditure from that. we are going to be providing $5,000 in burial expenses for each family that has lost a loved one. we are going to ask funeral home or group helping out to not charge the families beyond that $5,000. we at least have to be able to grieve together. and no one is going to have to apply. we're going to work with our vital statistics group, for everyone who has been identified, and we're going to work to reach out and contact those families directly. right now, we think we have about 30,000 kentucky homes that are without power. s

several dead here in kentucky. late today, the governor describing the historic nature of this disaster. >> this is kentucky's most devastating tornado event in our history. we've lost far too many of our brothers and sisters. the damage is devastating. entire blocks, more than one block with nothing standing. to the people of america, there is no lens big enough to show you the extent of the damage here. >> here in mayfield, kentucky, their downtown devastated. taking a direct hit. large buildings gutted. the first presbyterian church destroyed. the courthouse, the clock tower ripped off. homes, neighborhoods leveled. street after street, we see it. homes wiped away. rooftops gone. the sides of homes torn off, bedrooms, living rooms exposed. the second floor of this home, open to the sky. this was a candle factory where several workers were killed. some 110 workers inside when the tornado hit. they were working into the night helping to fulfill orders in time for christmas. [ crying ] >> nobody can get to us. >> t

kentucky hit the hardest. the fema administrator today meeting with local officials, including the governor. he says at least 70 people have died, but warns that death toll will likely climb, and could go over 100. >> this is the hardest tornado event we have ever been through, and it's not just because of the property damage, but we've lost a lot of the good people. >> reporter: eddie knight capturing this video from his home. >> it's coming right towards us. >> i went and got in the basement with my family, and my pets, and hunkered down there until it passed by. >> reporter: in mayfield, a candle factory demolished in the twister's path. as many as 110 people believed to be inside when it collapsed. >> it would be a miracle if anybody else is found alive in it. >> reporter: this woman was one of more than three dozen people pulled from under the rubble. >> the whole building fell. >> reporter: moments after, she recorded this video calling for help. >> i stop moving. we all stuck. >> reporter: in the backgr

in kentucky, a candle factory flattened. officials digging through the rubble looking for survivors. >> i just came from there. we're going to lose a lot of lives in that facility. >> families outside of the facility desperate for news about their loved ones. >> i've been looking for her ever since 10:30 tonight. please help me. >>> mean time, in illinois, an amazon warehouse partially collapsed. >> i have no idea to get ahold of him, i have no idea what's going on. we're just worried sick. we just want to know if he's okay. >> president biden offers federal support. >> this is one of those times when we aren't democrats or republicans. it sounds like hyperbole but it's real. we are all americans. we stand together as the united states of america. and so i say to all the victims, you're in our prayers. >> i'm pamela brown in mayfield, ke kentucky, the epicenter of the deadliest day for tornados on record. more than 70 people are feared dead from a devastating string of tornados across a half dozen states . the death toll cli

this is historic for kentucky. i'm from kentucky. this is damage like this state has not seen from a tornado that spanned more than 200 miles in terms of the track that it was on. tell us more about what made this storm different than previous storms that you have chased. the size of the tornado. very large, but also it was moving at a very high rate of speed anywhere between 50 and 60 miles per hour, maybe a little more. it was a very dangerous storm. also, it was at night, of course, so it was a nocturnal tornado which made it very dangerous. the things that i'm seeing -- that i seen throughout mayfield, it looked like there were multiple votices through mayfield. you have bands on the outer sides that get almost wiped out as well but then you have inner areas within mayfield that didn't get that much damage. i'm not saying they didn't get that much damage. they still got damage. but not the devastation that you're seeing within the center line through mayfield. >> michael gordon, it's just stunning to hear what you saw and heard w

kentucky is united today behind the people of western kentucky who want to be here to help dig out, to help make rescues, to help provide when people are suffering, and then to help rebuild. this is not a one-day thing. this is one state, and we will stand united to make sure that we can lift our families back up. please know that there are a lot of families that need your prayers, prayers that somebody may be found or prayers to help them through the grieving process. dawson springs up the road hit incredibly hard. that's where i'll be headed next. i want to call on a number of people today to give you an idea of different things that we are doing. i can tell you that the state of emergency was put into place last night before midnight, the national guard is deployed and will be in communities very shortly, and that is now going to be augmented. we need more individuals in the field. we're going to hear from our general in a minute. first i want to turn it over to jesse, the county judge here who has been working really hard, and then we'll hear from the mayor, and then we'll move to

this is an extremely, extremely hard hit for kentucky. this may be, i'm told, at a length of 217 miles is the track of this particular event. it may end up being the largest single ground track in recorded history and that speaks to how hard kentucky was hit. >> michael dossett, we want to give you our thanks for your work. we should tell our viewers, you were actually a few days away, a couple of weeks from retiring and now you're tasked with this very difficult mission. we appreciate it. we know your community appreciates it. michael dossett, thank you so much for the time, sir. >> thank you. if i could add one caveat, we've started a relief fund, team kentucky relief fund.ky.gov. thank you. >> excellent. you can find more details on how to lend a helping hand at cnn.com/impact. >>> thank you very much for starting your morning with us. >> it's been a tough last couple of days but we appreciate you being with us. "inside politics" sunday is up next. first, we leave you with this week's "human factor." >> lacrosse is something that came

kentucky. a high bluff position overlooking the mississippi river that they're very western and of kentucky. the southwestern corner of the state. that decision has largely been attributed for kentucky and immediately joining our remaining in the union more enthusiastically embracing union recruitment. the union legislature passes a resolution reaffirming the lincoln government, calling for troops. governor mcgee often please the south to tennessee. and for a time it, it looks as if that will be a major tipping point. it's probably not, really. the fact is that the federal government, in the form of william nelson, former union naval officer, has already been arming troops at camp robinson and kentucky for approximately a month. there are 5000 pro union militia in the state and it will be 10,000 by december. kentucky had largely already decided. but roy polk doesn't do in occupying columbus, is also going another 40 miles north and occupying the city of paducah, and polk has made no plans to do

of kentucky. and that decision has largely been attributed for kentucky and remaining in the union and more enthusiastically embracing union recruits. legislature passes a resolution affirming the lincoln government flees south to send us tennessee. and then for a time it looks as if that will be a major tipping point. the fact is the federal government and the form of nelson has been arming troops in kentucky. the pastor about time he said september. kentucky had largely already decided that poke what has he has failed to do and occupy columbus' also go another 40 miles or so further north and occupied the strategic city of paducah which is where the mouth of the tennessee river is. i will do anything to occupy columbus. the very sit next day, september 3, the union troops immediately occupy paducah so they have control of the tennessee river. that essentially will end up outflanking columbus again offers to resign on november 6 not because of the controversy here, but because albert johnson is b

it's mostly kentucky, but not only kentucky. i just want to let you know that is what i was doing. i haven't decided where i'm going yet. when we talked about this two days ago, i don't want to be in the way. there's a lot going on. there's a long tail that follows. i don't want to do anything other than a value added. i want you to know that this administration has made it clear to every governor that whatever they need, when they need it, make it known to me. we will get it to them as rapidly as we can. that is what we are doing here in kentucky. we are going to have to go beyond what is available to the federal government. fema can come up with up to $35,000 in housing restoration. there aren't a lot of $35,000 homes. we can provide everything from hotel rooms in places where folks can live in the meantime. there's a lot to be done, and we are just getting underway. we are going to work with all the governors to make sure we can. >> what do you believe your own visit there can do for the people affected by this? what part of recovery do you worry about? >> what i worry about mos

i'm from kentucky. not from mayfield, but the people here clearly there's a community spirit and even in the shock and the devastation, you can really feel that community spirit. if you would, paint a picture for our viewers when you came to the scene of the candle factory, what did it look like? what was the devastation like? we've seen that drone footage. but i can attest to the fact the video, the pictures, they're horrific, but when you get here on the scene, it's even -- it's even worse. you can't believe your eyes how bad it has. >> yeah, when i pulled up, it was pitch dark. there's no electricity. so you're walking, you're trying to get your bearings because things don't look the same now as they did yesterday. and so i'm walking and i start seeing all of these factories which was -- they had a tractor ago place in front of the candle factory. you go over the hill and all you see is a pile of rubble. you see tractors that had blew over and landed on top of that pile of rubble. and someone said, t

senator rand paul of kentucky has opposed emergency relief aid to all states except kentucky. joining us now is the lieutenant governor of kentucky, jacqueline coleman. lieutenant governor, thank you very much for joining us tonight on what i know is a difficult night for you. what are the state's needs at this point in the recovery? >> well, thank you so much for having me, lawrence, and let me just say that your opening clip showing the president and governor beshear leading with compassion and swift decision making is exactly what you want to see out of your elected leaders. i'm so proud of their leadership and their compassion and the way that they are wrapping their arms around this commonwealth. of course i knew that about governor beshear and was really happy to see that from president biden today in person. it really is remarkable. but in terms of what we need, there are three ways that i would say that folks can help. the first is we have a fund that we have set up for the folks in western kentucky where every single penny goes directly to support the boots on the gro

in kentucky alone, governor andy beshear says at least 80 people were killed. homes and businesses now torn to pieces. governor beshear is opening state parks to help house families left homeless and in shock. >> gone. we have glass broken. all the furniture is torn up. broken. just sad. >> over the weekend president biden signed a federal emergency disaster declaration for kentucky and fema has sent a housing expert to help work out how to help those in need. in kentucky, just over 26,000 homes and businesses are still without power today. in the southern illinois city of edwardsville, six people died in the collapse of this huge amazon distribution center. that's where we find cnn's polo sandoval live for us this morning. polo, good morning. are authorities still searching for survivors at this hour? bring our viewers up to speed. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you laura. we can start in dawson springs, some 200 miles southwest of where we are this morning right now. the major there chris smiley telling our colleagues it's an utter disaster like a

kentucky is united today behind the people of western kentucky. we want to be there to help dig out, to help make rescues, to help provide when people are suffering and then to help rebuild. this is not a one-day thing. you know, this is one state and we will stand united to make sure that we can lift our families back up. but please know that there are a lot of families that need your prayers. prayers that somebody may be found, or prayers to help them through the grieving process. dawson springs up the road also hit incredibly hard. that's where i'll be headed next. i want to call on a number of people today to give you an idea of different things that we are doing. i can tell you that the state of emergency was put into place last night before midnight. the national guard is deployed and will be in communities very shortly and that's now going to be augmented. we'll hear from agitent-general in a minute. and i want to hear from who is working really hard and hear from the mayor and move to emergency management, national guard, we'll hear from t

it has been mostly kentucky here but not only kentucky. i just wanted to let you know that is what we have been doing. i have not decided where we are going yet. i don't want to be in the way. there is a lot going on. when the president shows up, there is a long detail -- longtail to follow. i want you to know that this administration has made it clear to every governor, whenever they need when they need it. make it known to me. we will get it to them as rapidly as we can. that is what we are doing here. we are going to have to go beyond what is available to the federal government. in the meantime, we can provide everything from hotel rooms. there is a lot to be done. what i worry about most-- i have been involved in responding to a lot of disasters. the peace of mind of people being able to actually put their head on a pillow and be able to lie down on a bed and know their kids are going to be ok. this is a narrow path. the devastation is stunning. there is nothing left standing along the path that goes all the way through. i think this i

in kentucky. president biden traveled to kentucky today to survey the tornado devastation there. the lieutenant governor of kentucky will be joining us tonight. before leaving kentucky. president biden said, quote, there is nothing domestically more important than voting rights. it's the single biggest issue. the single biggest issue. if that is true, then president biden should logically suspend his negotiations with senator joe manchin over the build back better bill. and spent all of his time with joe manchin trying to convince him and the rest of the democrats of the senate to pass a voting rights bill immediately even if they have to change the rules of the senate to do that. the pressure to do that has increased this week. with the dramatic revelations delivered by the house select committee investigating the january 6th attack on the capitol. the committee continues to add detail to the conspiracy led by donald trump to overturn the results of the presidential election on january six with t

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people of western, kentucky. we want to be here to help dig out. help make rescues to help provide when people are suffering and then to help rebuild. this is not a one-day thing. now, this is one state and we will stand united to make sure that we can lift our families back up. but please know that there are a lot of families that need your prayers. prayers that somebody may be found. more prayers to help them through the grieving process. dawson springs up the road also hit incredibly hard. that's where i'll be headed next. i want to call on a number of people today to give you an idea of different things that we are doing. i can tell you that the state of emergency was put into place last night before midnight. the national guard is deployed and will be in communities very shortly and that is now going to be augmented. we need more individuals in the field. we're going to hear from our adjutant general in in a minute. but first i want to turn it over to jesse. judge here who has been working really hard and th

it is not just kentucky. it's multistate. you're now looking at deaths of 79 across five states as a result of these storms. towns just gone as you heard from the governor. >> john: we're looking at mayfield, kentucky. mike tobin is on the ground in mayfield to give us a little bit more context and perspective of what he has seen from his vantage point. mike, what do you know? >> mostly what we know is the sound of heavy equipment at work. so much destruction. this is the first presbyterian church behind me. look at the brick and the matter that is down. a lot of twisted steel. you're talking about twisted steel and brick. you're not talking about trailer homes ripped apart. this should give you an idea of the force of the storm. look around this immediate area. one of the things you'll notice is a number of dump trucks from the department of highway. they're working in a system. they get filled up with this debris and take it somewhere, a couple of temporary dumps outside of town where this debris is being deposited. look pa

especially in mayfield, kentucky. houses, offices, places of worship, all once stood here where you're looking on the screen. now, they don't. nearby hospitals are treating patients with chemical burns and crush injuries. crews have rescued 40 people from what's left of a candle factory where 110 people were working when the storm hit. the governor saying it will be a miracle if anyone else is found alive. one woman who did manage to escape captured these terrifying moments on facebook live. >> we are trapped. please, y'all, give us some help. we're at the candle factory in mayfield. please. please. y'all -- y'all, please, send us some help. somebody please send us some help. we are trapped. the wall is stuck on me. nobody can get to us. yeah, please. we can't move. andrea, calm down. y'all, please, y'all. pray for us. just get somebody to come and help us. >> and this video shows the silhouette of the path where the national weather service says a long path tornado may have traveled hundreds of miles from arkansas th

the way into kentucky. they expect to liberate kentucky. they fight the battle of perryville in october of '62 and polk brags retreat out of kentucky with support of his generals who later will say, no, we didn't support him. this doesn't come to a head until the spring of 1863, after the battle of stone's river when the army of tennessee goes into sort of a quiet period and so the generals have plenty of time to devote to infighting. it will, in the spring of 1863, the problems within the army of tennessee, the command problems between essentially braxton bragg on one hand and his two major corps commanders, william j. hardy and leonidas, will come to such a head that jefferson davis will actually order joe johnson to go to shelbyville, tennessee, where the army is headquartered, relieve bragg, send him to richmond, and take command of the army himself. there's a whole other talk here about why joe johnson didn't do that. but nevertheless, it did not happen. and nothing got resolved. and that boil festered

kentucky's governor andy beshear saying just 40 have been rescued. officials and loved ones are searching for the missing and they are stunned by what they are seeing. >> this is probably the worst thing i ever seen in my life in person and i've been several places and i've seen, you know, just -- this is just terrible. >> somebody said that's the candle factory right there, and i was like you got to be kidding me. it was nothing but a pile of metal. it was just shock. >> these storm have completely, as you can see, altered the landscape of mayfield. in fact, there are just a few buildings standing in the town of about 10,000 people. the national guard and other kentucky commonwealth personnel are conducting house-to-house searches and debris removal. kentucky's governor and president biden each reassured kentuckians that everything is being done to help. >> the federal government is not going to walk away. this is one of those times when we aren't democrats or republicans. sounds like hyperbole, but it's real. we're all americans. we stand together

this is the candle factory in mayfield, kentucky. 30 minutes south of paducah, kentucky. this is remarkable damage. we spoke to a state trooper recently who said they are still undergoing rescues which means they believe there are still people inside that wreckage. that is the case for mayfield, kentucky and area around it. there are more than 50 people known to be dead as a result of 32 tornadoes that touched down from yesterday evening until this morning. early this morning. there are fears more than 100 people could be dead. rescues are still under way. there is an amazon warehouse in edwardsville, illinois. several deaths reported there. i want to bring in ryan henson in illinois. ryan, what is the situation where you are? >> reporter: it is a search and rescue mission here. i'll step out of the way to give you an idea. that is the amazon facility. that wall right there which is no more than a length of the football field and winds ripped off the roof. the storms have since moved on out of the area. we are 20 miles outside of st. louis, missouri. as you take a closer

over 100 people are feared dead, at least 80 of them from kentucky. cbs's david begnaud is in the devastated town of mayfield. i know that a lot of times the pictures and the video just don't do these stories any justice, david. >> good evening, you know, the police said tonight they're gettng a lot of calls like this, will you go check on my relatives, see if they are okay. i'm worried about them, i haven't heard from them. land lines aren't working, cell phone service is spotty, tht is why we don't know for sure how many people died and are still missing. because of all of that tonight they are still doing what they interest calling a search and rescue operation. in mayfield, kentucky, crews with heavy machine ree were powered up, clearing piles of degree in downtown. right near the center of town we caught this 360 degree view showing what businesses look like before the tornado, and what the landscape looks like now. >> good morning. >> but so many others were not as fortunate. >> the largest loss of life could be here at the mayfield consumer pro

laura podesta in mayfield, kentucky. thank you so much. >>> well, search efforts at that amazon facility that laura told us about are expected to take several days. as we reported, at least six people were killed in that illinois building. authorities say that they don't expect to find any more survivors. at this point it's unclear how many workers were inside when the twister hit on friday. the governor says this sudden tragedy is taking a toll on the community. >> there are no words to assuage the pain of losing a loved one. and even fewer when that cost and that loss comes so suddenly. >> authorities say at least 45 people escaped from the building. one person was airlifted to the hospital. >>> ahead on "cbs mornings," we'll talk with kathy stewart o'nan. the mayor of mayfield, kentucky, and we'll ask about the progress of recovery effort in her devastated community. >>> now to the latest on the coronavirus. a new study is shedding more light on pfizer's vaccine defense against the omicron variant. researchers in isra

kentucky as a state is resilient. but at the same time, we just need prayers and support. >> reporter: now, chris, i'm in the downtown area. that candle factory is about two miles away from here. you have emergency responders pretty much coming in from all across the state lending a helping hand. they're combing through the rubble. one firefighter described to me this weekend they're literally walking on the roof of the candle factory, going through the rubble in hopes they will find anyone alive. chris? >> kathy park, thank you so much for that. and just about an hour's drive east of where kathy is, i want to bring in ellison barber who just got to dawson springs, kentucky. we're getting our first look today at the area you're in, ellison. it's the governor's father's hometown, and yesterday when the governor was talking to chuck todd on "meet the press" it was gasp worthy when he said the list of unaccounted people there was eight pages single spaced. tell me what's happening on the ground. what that search is like.

this right here is the scene in kentucky. governor andy baa scheeres says one devastating twister touched town for more than 200 miles killing at least 70 people and as many as -- in as many as 10 is counties, and he fears the death toll could top 100. hello, everyone, this is "fox news live,"■ç i'm arthel nevill. eric: hello, everyone. thank you for joining us on this somber saturday afternoon. you know, the scale of the destruction just two weeks before christmas is vast, extensive and heartbreaking. the suspected tornado destroyed a nursing home in arkansas, killed one person there, then trapped 20 others at that facility as you can see just collapsed around them. meanwhile, up north illinois was also hit hard. search and rescue crews combing through rubble at an amazon warehouse in edwardsville which was partially collapsed by the tornado, almost completely, as you can see there. that roof just i destroyed, no walls. devastation everywhere, at least two people killed. but kentucky may have gotten the worst of it. the c