Samaritan’s purse is responding to horrible storms that struck Kentucky and Arkansas. Rev. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse, asks that we please pray for all whose lives
have been turned upside down by these events.
If you wish to donate to help those whose lives have been devastated by the quad-state tornados please click this link.
A swarm of deadly nighttime tornadoes tore through six states from Friday evening into Saturday morning. Scores are reported dead with totals expected to climb as search-and-rescue efforts continue.
Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi were battered by dozens of tornadoes. The worst damage was across western Kentucky where Gov. Andy Beshear said he believes at least 70 people, and possibly more than that, lost their lives. He called the storms “the most severe tornado event in Kentucky’s history.” The city of Mayfield, with a population of 10,000 in Graves County, was especially devastated.
Overall, this unusually violent, late fall outbreak is believed to be the deadliest U.S. tornado event ever recorded for December, surpassing storms that killed 38 people in Mississippi on Dec. 5, 1953.
One of the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes, known as the “quad-state tornado,” formed in Arkansas, crossed parts of Tennessee and Missouri, and then ripped across southwestern Kentucky. This storm, (which may actually have been a cluster of closely aligned tornadoes rather than a single one), left a trail of destruction more than 200 miles long, among the lengthiest twister tracks ever documented in the United States.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Sunday said he expects the death toll from this weekend’s tornado event will rise.
Beshear told co-host Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” that more than 80 Kentuckians have died as a result of the severe weather conditions, but warned that the “number is gonna exceed more than 100.”
“This is the deadliest tornado event we have ever had. I think it's going to be the longest and deadliest tornado event in U.S. history,” he said.
Samaritan’s Purse has deployed to both Kentucky and Arkansas. In a statement posted to the Samaritan’s Purse website, Rev. Graham said, “We have sent a Disaster Response Unit—a tractor trailer loaded with equipment and supplies—to Arkansas already and another is headed to Kentucky today. Staff members are already on the ground assessing the situations in both states.”
The Hill reported one area of particular concern in the state is a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, where roughly 110 people were working when the tornado hit. Beshear on Sunday said about 40 of the people inside have been rescued, but was skeptical of more people being pulled out alive.
“I'm not sure that we're going to see another rescue. I pray for it, it would be an incredibly welcomed miracle, but I think it's been since 3:30 yesterday morning that we found a live person,” Beshear said.
The outbreak of storms starting early Friday evening also spawned tornadoes that ravaged communities throughout Arkansas and left at least two people dead.
To view an astonishing video of the Monette, Arkansas tornado click here and wait through an interminable ad for the failing woke remake of West Side Story.
Crews at the scene reported one person had died at Monette, Arkansas nursing facility, and five others were injured. There were also reports of as many as 20 people being trapped under collapsed portions of the building.
Initial reports from the scene said two people had died in the collapse, but authorities later revised that number.
Nearby, one person died when a tornado hit Leachville, Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook said Saturday. The woman was inside a Dollar General store when a tornado tore through it.
“Volunteer teams will be needed to start work in the next few days. The need is urgent,” Rev. Graham posted on the Samaritan’s Purse website.
Samaritan’s Purse staff are working with local emergency management personnel to mount a strategic response and will coordinate with local churches throughout the deployment. The organization’s volunteer teams will assist homeowners with debris cleanup, roof tarping, and chainsaw work and sharing the love of Christ as they serve in Jesus’ Name.
If you wish to volunteer go to this page and register, you will be contacted by email once details for these sites have been finalized.
Samaritan's Purse
Tornado Disaster Relief
Kentucky
Arkansas
Rev. Franklin Graham
Gov. Andy Beshear
quad-state tornado