Crews continue to search for survivors in deadliest recent tornado outbreak in US
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As search crews continue to search for survivors following Friday night’s deadly tornadoes, survivors are sharing their stories.
Officials say at least 40 tornadoes ripped through nine states and killed at least 88 people – the governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, said the number of fatalities could increase.
On Monday, Governor Beshear also reported there were nearly 450 national guard soldiers on the ground to help with recovery – 95 soldiers will be searching for any more possible survivors.
"Their search is one where we hope they don’t find them," Governor Beshear said of the soldiers looking for survivors. "We hope somebody connects [with] them, and they’re out there, and we just don’t know where they are yet."
On top of crews working hard to clean up debris, restore power, and fix homes, community members and many volunteers are helping those in need.
Damaged cars and destroyed homes are seen in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. [AP Photo/Gerald Herbert]
An American Red Cross team from Minnesota will be making their way to Mayfield, Kentucky – one of the hardest-hit areas in western Kentucky.
JP Doyle is part of that team – she’ll likely be volunteering through Christmas and tells 5 EYE WITNESS NEWS this isn’t the first time she’ll be volunteering during the holidays.
"It’s a great feeling to know that I am actually doing something besides just feeling bad for the folks," Doyle said.
Mayfield is also home to a candle factory that had 110 people working inside it when storms rolled through Friday night – 8 of the people inside died.
One of the 102 survivors, Jim Douglas, said he remembers everything.
"The wall came down on top of me and hit me in the head and knocked me on the ground," Douglas said from his hospital bed surrounded by family.
Rescuers eventually found Douglas near the bottom of the debris. By carefully cutting metal and debris around him, they were able to free him after being trapped for four hours.
"It was cutting off my breathing. I was able to get my arm right like this," Douglas explained as he lifted his right arm up near his chest.
"It was the only thing I could move. Everything else was pinned, so I could push myself up and get a breath," Douglas added about being able to move his arm to help breath while trapped under feet of debris.
You can help the American Red Cross in their mission here.