Employees say they were threatened with firing if they left before the Kentucky tornado struck, over 100 still missing, Biden to visit the state, 2-month-old succumbs to injuries, and latest updates on weekend tornadoes.
Candle factory employees say threatened with firing if they left before tornado
Employees of Mayfield Consumer Products, a factory that makes scented candles, in Mayfield, Kentucky, said that after hearing tornado sirens and wanting to leave the building, supervisors warned them they would be fired if they left their shifts early, NBC reported.
But even before the warning sirens sounded four hours, word of the coming storm was spreading. Reportedly, as many as 15 workers implored their managers to let them take shelter in their own homes. However, employees say their requests were denied and were told they would lose their jobs if they left early.
Nonetheless, fearing for their safety, some employees left their shifts regardless of what the repercussions might be.
Biden to travel to Kentucky
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden will travel to Kentucky to survey the areas hardest hit by the tornadoes, the Washington Post reported. Biden has promised to ensure Kentucky, as well as all the impacted states, get “whatever they need when they need it.”
Death toll in Kentucky tornadoes rises to 74
At least 74 people have been confirmed dead in Kentucky and 14 people in other states.
“We’re still finding people,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said at a news briefing on Monday, adding it could take weeks to determine the total number of fatalities, as well as the full extent of the damage.
According to the Kentucky National Guard, all of the workers inside the Mayfield consumer products factory have been accounted for, LEX18 NBC reported. The confirmed death toll at the candle factory remains at eight.
2-month-old succumbs to injuries
Adding to the rising death toll on Monday, a 2-month-old girl became one of the youngest victims of the Kentucky tornadoes after succumbing to injuries sustained when the twister obliterated her family home over the weekend. Doctors believe the infant suffered a stroke. The New York Post reported that the family was sent “flying” by the tornado, ending up at a neighbor’s home.
Over 105 people still missing elsewhere
The New York Post reported that at least 105 people are still missing. The largest number of missing people is in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where 95 people remain unaccounted for as crews continue recovery efforts, WDRB reported. At least 13 people have been found dead in the rubble.
Storm of historic proportions
The tornadoes that occurred over Friday night and early Saturday were one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recent US history, also notable for the timing, duration, and strength of the storms, the Washington Post reported. The post said researchers are likely to study the enormous supercell (rotating thunderstorm) which spurred the series of twisters that caused the majority of the destruction. Researchers will be investigating if such events will happen more often due to a warming climate.
