Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear announced more than 100 residents remain unaccounted for, in addition to 74 people confirmed dead, during an update on Tuesday following devastating tornadoes over the weekend that impacted six states.
Victims ranged from just two-months-old to 98-years-old. A total of 12 children were lost in the widespread tornado damage.
Gov. Beshear to hold briefing on state’s response
to tornado damage. Watch live at 12 noon EST via https://t.co/n7homY7tSv or YouTube https://t.co/ofGhdJMJFP— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) December 14, 2021
As of Tuesday’s update, eight bodies remain unidentified. Search and rescue teams expect to discover additional bodies in their efforts.
A Mayfield candle factory collapsed during the storm with fears that dozens of trapped workers could be dead. In the update, Beshear noted just eight deaths in the incident, something he described as a miracle.
The Daily Wire noted that the Associated Press reported that over 90 of the 110 people working Friday night have been located by Monday, but another eight remained missing.
Bob Ferguson, spokesperson for Mayfield Consumer Products, told the AP, “Many of the employees were gathered in the tornado shelter and after the storm was over they left the plant and went to their homes,” he said. “With the power out and no landline they were hard to reach initially. We’re hoping to find more of those eight unaccounted as we try their home residences.”
Some controversy ensued following a report that workers who left the candle factory during the storm would be fired. A previous report by The Daily Wire reported this allegation, which was called “absolutely untrue” by a company spokesperson.
Several employees who worked at the Mayfield, Kentucky, candle factor that was destroyed by Friday night’s tornadoes said they were told they would be fired if they left their shifts early.
NBC News reported that at least five workers “said supervisors warned employees that they would be fired if they left their shifts early.” Around 15 workers, who were aware the storm was coming, had approached managers and asked if they could leave so they could shelter at home. Their requests were denied, but some decided to leave work early anyway.
Bob Ferguson, a spokesperson for Mayfield Consumer Products, denied that employees were told they would be fired if they left their shifts early ahead of the tornado.
“It’s absolutely untrue,” Ferguson said. “We’ve had a policy in place since Covid began. Employees can leave any time they want to leave and they can come back the next day.”
The Daily Wire previously reported regarding the destruction of the tornadoes on Saturday:
Officials said late on Saturday that more than 80 people have died as a result of dozens of tornadoes that ravaged several Midwest and southern states late on Friday night and early Saturday morning as rescue efforts remain ongoing for those still trapped in collapsed structures.
“Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said that at least 70 had been killed, and the state’s death toll could increase to more than 100,” The New York Times reported. “Officials said that at least six people had been killed at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, four had died in Tennessee and two had died in Arkansas.”
At least 30 tornadoes were reported throughout Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The largest tornado that struck the region tore through more than 200 miles in Kentucky.