ABOVE: GOV. BESHEAR GIVES UPDATE ON AFTERMATH, RELIEF EFFORTS Houses ripped from foundations, cars flipped and thrown, and several lives lost.The rare December tornadoes that ripped through Kentucky, and several other states, left communities across western Kentucky completely devastated.Here's what we know about the storms and their impact. Dec. 20 updatesGov. Andy Beshear said the death toll from the tornadoes has been adjusted to 76.Over the weekend, the governor raised the death toll to 78, but there were some discrepancies at the local level. One of the issues was that the state health department had 75 deaths and were trying to confirm three deaths from Dawson Springs.Officials confirmed that those three deaths were counted in Hopkins County and later determined to have come from Caldwell County. That moved the death count to 75.Then, on Monday, Beshear said officials confirmed a worker from the Mayfield candle factory that was rescued after the tornado succumbed to their injuries.That brings the updated death total to 76.In Graves County, where the tornado destroyed much of Mayfield, the death count is 22.Officials said the total number of candle factory workers killed is now nine.During his Monday update, Beshear also confirmed that there are no active search and rescue operations taking place in the state. That's on top of all those who were reported missing now being accounted for."Those are two pieces of good news," Beshear said.Beshear also said that all state roads that were shut down due to the storms are now open.Meanwhile, Beshear said a recent toy drive had brought in truckloads of donations from all over the country for western Kentucky kids who lost their homes and possessions in the storms just two weeks before Christmas.The toys for storm-affected families will be distributed at five sites, or Christmas storefronts, that will offer parents a chance to shop for toys for their children, Beshear said. The storefronts will be open Tuesday and Thursday.The toy drive, which is now closed for donations, was organized by Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear.More than 900 storm victims were being housed at state park resorts and hotels, Beshear said Monday.Scroll below for previous updates on the storm response.Dec. 18 updatesGov. Beshear announced that all people missing because of the tornadoes has been accounted for. He raised the death toll from 77 to 78, citing a victim who had passed away in Logan County. Beshear also announced that federal funding has been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance or DUA. People who had work taken away from them or interrupted in the 14 affected counties will be able to apply online for this special unemployment aid. People will need to complete two steps.1) They will need to apply at kcc.ky.gov or call 1-800-875-0442 even if they are farmers who have been affected. Farmers will, of course, get denied, but Gov. Beshear said this workaround is the only way to get them logged into the system as it is built to make sure that farmers get assistance along with those who lose employment. 2) They will need to appear in person and apply at an on site event. Those can be seen in the graphic below. Gov. Beshear also re-assured people that if they no longer had a driver's license because they lost it in the storms or still lived at the same address because they had been displaced, that the government would work with them to get the aid to them regardless.Gov. Beshear also said that families with deceased loved ones would receive $10,000 per dead family member for funeral expenses instead of the originally announced $5,000. "No family should have to bury their loved one with a cheap funeral. That's not right," said Beshear. Dec. 17 updatesOnly one person is still unaccounted for statewide. That's down from 16 yesterday. Another person has been added to the death toll, making it 77. The state's fundraising is up to $18.39 million.Impact on KentuckiansDeath toll78; at least 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. Terry Martin Jayne operated a floral shop for 45 years. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter, three grandchildren and four siblings.Here's what we know about the victimsPeople unaccounted forAll people are now accounted for.Homes, buildings destroyedMore than 1,000. In Dawson Springs, 75% of homes were destroyed.People without power3,280 (down from 24,000). FEMA says 2,000 of those cannot be restored for weeks. Most of them are in Mayfield and some are in Dawson Springs, the two hardest hit areas.Counties under emergency disaster declarationBreckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer and Warren Storm statsWhen and where were the stormsThe began late on Friday, Dec. 10 and continued into the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 11 — they began calming down well before sunrise. They affected Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois.Confirmed tornadoes in KentuckyFEMA says five, but the NWS is still surveying, and may not have an exact number for weeks. They say they are still evaluating the continuity, or discontinuity, of each path. Kentucky tornado classificationsHighest so far is an EF4, which is categorized as "strong." On Dec. 17, NWS Paducah said the preliminary path length of that tornado is 165.7 miles with estimated wing peaks of 190 mph.Storm pathThe storm is expected to have affected an estimated 227 miles — which could make it one of, if not the, longest tornado in the nation's history. The NWS says the tornado began in northeast Arkansas, crossed the Missouri Bootheel and northwest Tennessee, and then traversed through western Kentucky. How to helpAerial footage of damageStories from affected communities
MAYFIELD, Ky. — ABOVE: GOV. BESHEAR GIVES UPDATE ON AFTERMATH, RELIEF EFFORTS
Houses ripped from foundations, cars flipped and thrown, and several lives lost.
The rare December tornadoes that ripped through Kentucky, and several other states, left communities across western Kentucky completely devastated.
Here's what we know about the storms and their impact.
Dec. 20 updates
Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll from the tornadoes has been adjusted to 76.
Over the weekend, the governor raised the death toll to 78, but there were some discrepancies at the local level. One of the issues was that the state health department had 75 deaths and were trying to confirm three deaths from Dawson Springs.
Officials confirmed that those three deaths were counted in Hopkins County and later determined to have come from Caldwell County. That moved the death count to 75.
Then, on Monday, Beshear said officials confirmed a worker from the Mayfield candle factory that was rescued after the tornado succumbed to their injuries.
That brings the updated death total to 76.
In Graves County, where the tornado destroyed much of Mayfield, the death count is 22.
Officials said the total number of candle factory workers killed is now nine.
During his Monday update, Beshear also confirmed that there are no active search and rescue operations taking place in the state. That's on top of all those who were reported missing now being accounted for.
"Those are two pieces of good news," Beshear said.
Beshear also said that all state roads that were shut down due to the storms are now open.
Meanwhile, Beshear said a recent toy drive had brought in truckloads of donations from all over the country for western Kentucky kids who lost their homes and possessions in the storms just two weeks before Christmas.
The toys for storm-affected families will be distributed at five sites, or Christmas storefronts, that will offer parents a chance to shop for toys for their children, Beshear said. The storefronts will be open Tuesday and Thursday.
The toy drive, which is now closed for donations, was organized by Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear.
More than 900 storm victims were being housed at state park resorts and hotels, Beshear said Monday.
Scroll below for previous updates on the storm response.
Dec. 18 updates
Gov. Beshear announced that all people missing because of the tornadoes has been accounted for. He raised the death toll from 77 to 78, citing a victim who had passed away in Logan County.
Beshear also announced that federal funding has been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance or DUA. People who had work taken away from them or interrupted in the 14 affected counties will be able to apply online for this special unemployment aid.
People will need to complete two steps.
1) They will need to apply at kcc.ky.gov or call 1-800-875-0442 even if they are farmers who have been affected. Farmers will, of course, get denied, but Gov. Beshear said this workaround is the only way to get them logged into the system as it is built to make sure that farmers get assistance along with those who lose employment.
2) They will need to appear in person and apply at an on site event. Those can be seen in the graphic below. Gov. Beshear also re-assured people that if they no longer had a driver's license because they lost it in the storms or still lived at the same address because they had been displaced, that the government would work with them to get the aid to them regardless.
Gov. Beshear also said that families with deceased loved ones would receive $10,000 per dead family member for funeral expenses instead of the originally announced $5,000. "No family should have to bury their loved one with a cheap funeral. That's not right," said Beshear.
Dec. 17 updates
Only one person is still unaccounted for statewide. That's down from 16 yesterday. Another person has been added to the death toll, making it 77.
The state's fundraising is up to $18.39 million.
Impact on Kentuckians
Death toll
78; at least 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. Terry Martin Jayne operated a floral shop for 45 years. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter, three grandchildren and four siblings.
Here's what we know about the victims
People unaccounted for
All people are now accounted for.
Homes, buildings destroyed
More than 1,000. In Dawson Springs, 75% of homes were destroyed.
People without power
3,280 (down from 24,000). FEMA says 2,000 of those cannot be restored for weeks. Most of them are in Mayfield and some are in Dawson Springs, the two hardest hit areas.
Counties under emergency disaster declaration
Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer and Warren
Storm stats
When and where were the storms
The began late on Friday, Dec. 10 and continued into the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 11 — they began calming down well before sunrise. They affected Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois.
Confirmed tornadoes in Kentucky
FEMA says five, but the NWS is still surveying, and may not have an exact number for weeks. They say they are still evaluating the continuity, or discontinuity, of each path.
Kentucky tornado classifications
Highest so far is an EF4, which is categorized as "strong." On Dec. 17, NWS Paducah said the preliminary path length of that tornado is 165.7 miles with estimated wing peaks of 190 mph.
Storm path
Kentucky Emergency Management
The storm is expected to have affected an estimated 227 miles — which could make it one of, if not the, longest tornado in the nation's history.
The NWS says the tornado began in northeast Arkansas, crossed the Missouri Bootheel and northwest Tennessee, and then traversed through western Kentucky.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
How to help
Aerial footage of damage
Stories from affected communities