Over 70 people are believed to be dead in Kentucky following an outbreak of tornadoes late Friday evening into early Saturday morning, according to GovernorAndy Beshear.On Saturday, Beshear, 44, announced in apress conferencethat he declared a state of emergency and activated 181 guardsmen from the National Guard. “It’s devastating,” he said.“Multiple tornadoes have touched down and we have damage in, I believe, over a dozen Kentucky counties,” Beshear then noted, before detailing that four tornadoes — including one that remained on the ground for more than 200 miles after hitting land — had traveled through the state.For more on the devastating tornadoes in Kentucky and other top stories, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.“We have deaths in multiple, possibly many, counties,” Beshear continued. “We believe our death toll from this event will exceed 50 Kentuckians and probably end up closer to 70 to 100 lost lives.““We will make it through this,” he added. “We will rebuild — We are strong, resilient people.“Later on Saturday, afollow-up statementfrom Beshear’s office updated residents on his administration’s response to the deadly storm, as well as to increase the number of those believed to be dead.“This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky,” he said. “Earlier this morning at about 5 a.m., we were pretty sure that we would lose over 50 Kentuckians. I’m now certain that number is north of 70. It may in fact end up exceeding 100 before the day is done.“Added Beshear: “The damage is even worse now that we have first light.“Beshear is now said to be working to create a Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, per the statement from his office, which will accept donations and be used to provide aid to affected regions. The politician also signed anexecutive orderprohibiting price gouging.Damage from the tornadoes in Kentucky.Brett Carlsen/GettyWant to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.In a social media statement, Besheartweeteda letter to PresidentJoe Bidenand asked for “an immediate federal emergency declaration” for what he described as “one of the toughest nights in Kentucky’s history.“Biden, 79, issued his ownTwitter statementfollowing the destruction and loss of life on Saturday.“This morning, I was briefed on the devastating tornadoes across the central U.S. To lose a loved one in a storm like this is an unimaginable tragedy,” he shared. “We’re working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.“In his Saturday afternoon statement, Beshear also said that he spoke directly to Biden, alongside Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell about his request for a federal emergency declaration. Beshear said he expects to receive approval.As of Saturday morning, over 67,000 customers are currently experiencing outages in Kentucky, according toPowerOutage.US.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Brett Carlsen/GettyTornadoes were also reported in parts of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi as well,CNNreported.The tornadoes reportedly ripped through an occupied candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, and a nursing home in Arkansas.RELATED VIDEO:Dramatic Video Shows Tornado-Like Waterspout Shocking Cuban Town: ‘Very Dangerous’Elsewhere in Kentucky, a train was derailed near Earlington, as Matt Sanderson, a sheriff for Hopkins County, explained toKYWX.In a statement given toThe New York Times, Cindy Schild — a spokeswoman for the freight railroad company CSX — said: “There are no reported injuries to the crew. CSX personnel are on route to the scene and will coordinate with local emergency responders to assess the situation.”
Over 70 people are believed to be dead in Kentucky following an outbreak of tornadoes late Friday evening into early Saturday morning, according to GovernorAndy Beshear.
On Saturday, Beshear, 44, announced in apress conferencethat he declared a state of emergency and activated 181 guardsmen from the National Guard. “It’s devastating,” he said.
“Multiple tornadoes have touched down and we have damage in, I believe, over a dozen Kentucky counties,” Beshear then noted, before detailing that four tornadoes — including one that remained on the ground for more than 200 miles after hitting land — had traveled through the state.
For more on the devastating tornadoes in Kentucky and other top stories, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
“We have deaths in multiple, possibly many, counties,” Beshear continued. “We believe our death toll from this event will exceed 50 Kentuckians and probably end up closer to 70 to 100 lost lives.”
“We will make it through this,” he added. “We will rebuild — We are strong, resilient people.”
Later on Saturday, afollow-up statementfrom Beshear’s office updated residents on his administration’s response to the deadly storm, as well as to increase the number of those believed to be dead.
“This will be, I believe, the deadliest tornado system to ever run through Kentucky,” he said. “Earlier this morning at about 5 a.m., we were pretty sure that we would lose over 50 Kentuckians. I’m now certain that number is north of 70. It may in fact end up exceeding 100 before the day is done.”
Added Beshear: “The damage is even worse now that we have first light.”
Beshear is now said to be working to create a Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, per the statement from his office, which will accept donations and be used to provide aid to affected regions. The politician also signed anexecutive orderprohibiting price gouging.
Damage from the tornadoes in Kentucky.Brett Carlsen/Getty
Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.
In a social media statement, Besheartweeteda letter to PresidentJoe Bidenand asked for “an immediate federal emergency declaration” for what he described as “one of the toughest nights in Kentucky’s history.”
Biden, 79, issued his ownTwitter statementfollowing the destruction and loss of life on Saturday.
“This morning, I was briefed on the devastating tornadoes across the central U.S. To lose a loved one in a storm like this is an unimaginable tragedy,” he shared. “We’re working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.”
In his Saturday afternoon statement, Beshear also said that he spoke directly to Biden, alongside Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell about his request for a federal emergency declaration. Beshear said he expects to receive approval.
As of Saturday morning, over 67,000 customers are currently experiencing outages in Kentucky, according toPowerOutage.US.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Brett Carlsen/Getty
Tornadoes were also reported in parts of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi as well,CNNreported.
The tornadoes reportedly ripped through an occupied candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, and a nursing home in Arkansas.
RELATED VIDEO:Dramatic Video Shows Tornado-Like Waterspout Shocking Cuban Town: ‘Very Dangerous’
Elsewhere in Kentucky, a train was derailed near Earlington, as Matt Sanderson, a sheriff for Hopkins County, explained toKYWX.
In a statement given toThe New York Times, Cindy Schild — a spokeswoman for the freight railroad company CSX — said: “There are no reported injuries to the crew. CSX personnel are on route to the scene and will coordinate with local emergency responders to assess the situation.”
source: people.com
