Governor Andy Beshear said the most accurate number of lives lost in Kentucky tornado now stands at 76.
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The Governor has said multiple times he has been waiting to confirm three people from Dawson Springs that at one point had been included in Hopkins County’s report. He said those three are believed to already be counted in the Caldwell County numbers. The Governor said that would have pushed the number back to 75, but one additional employee of the candle factory who escaped the collapse later succumbed to their injuries.
Governor Beshear said there continues to be no one listed as missing from the storm. No active search or rescue operations are underway, he said.
As of Monday morning, the relief fund set up by the Beshear administration to help those in Western Kentucky impacted by the devastating tornado storms that hit the region December 10 has received 112,079 donations totaling $21,483,814.
To help distribute the toys donated through First Lady Britainy Beshear’s Western Kentucky Toy Drive, locations across the state will host a Christmas storefront on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.
Locations include:
• Kenlake State Resort Park, 542 Kenlake Road, Hardin, KY 42048
• Lake Barkley State Resort Park, 3500 State Park Road, Cadiz, KY 42211
• Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, 20781 Pennyrile Lodge Road, Dawson Springs, KY
• West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, 435 Outlet Avenue, Eddyville, KY 42038
For those unable to make it to the storefront site, email toydrive@ky.gov with county of residents in the subject line to arrange an alternative delivery method.
Kentuckians displaced by the tornadoes are being lodged at Kentucky state resort parks. Currently there are 226 state park rooms occupied by displaced Kentuckians and 92 rooms have been provided for first responders. Kentucky State Parks will be looking for volunteers after the New Year to help with dining room, kitchen, housekeeping and laundry as well as some maintenance work assistance.
interested in volunteering should contact Andy Kasitz via email at andy.kasitz@ky.gov and provide the following information: your name, a cell phone number, the name of park(s) at which you wish to volunteer and your availability.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opened a temporary driver licensing issuance station in Mayfield. Fees are waived for disaster victims needing to replace lost operator licenses, permits and state ID cards. The office, at 355 Charles Drive, will operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST, through at least January 28.
Insurance companies are reportedly onsite in Western Kentucky and claims adjusters are working with affected residents.
Kentuckians who became unemployed or who are self-employed and had work interrupted in one of 14 counties as a direct result of the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes on December 10, 2021, are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance.
The 14 counties are Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren.
To qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for traditional unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law. Farmers and other self-employed individuals who are traditionally ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA.