Governor Beshear says the death toll from the weekend tornadoes has reached 74.
Most of the deaths occured in Graves, Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Warren counties and Beshear says “there will be more” deaths as search and recovery efforts continue, and as of Monday afternoon, 109 Kentuckians remain unaccounted for, though he expects it will become more.
There was some positive news as the governor confirmed that 94 of the 110 employees in a Mayfield candle factory that was destroyed are alive. Eight workers were killed and eight are missing.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett says 97 power structures were damaged in the storms and 8,000 utility poles are down, meaning restoration efforts will take some time.
Dossett says the National Weather Service says at least five tornados touched down in Kentucky Friday night, with surveying remaining underway. A federal disaster was declared for eight counties, including Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor and Warren. Christian, Todd, Logan and Lyon Counties were three of several counties added to that list in the afternoon. Individual assistance is available for people in those counties. That includes loans and grants for housing and repairs.