Gov. gives update on tornado recovery

Kentucky’s tornado death toll from the weekend stands at 75 and the number of missing continues to fall.

Governor Andy Beshear says many names on the missing list had simply traveled out of the area to stay with family or simply couldn’t be immediately reached.

The list of missing that had been well over 100 was down to about 15 as of Thursday morning.

The governor urged anyone with storm damage to contact FEMA, says that agency already has a large presence on the ground and they’ve already made payments to Kentuckians.

The state has extended the period of time displaced residents can stay at state parks to four weeks, with 610 currently housed. There are 212 at Lake Barkley State Park and 119 at Pennyrile Forest and Beshear says several local organizations and churches have helped to brighten the days of those residents.

Governor Beshear says $15.9 million has been raised for the Team West Kentucky Relief Fund and they will be looking at some of those funds to help storm victims who did not have homeowner’s insurance.

The governor says the confirmed death toll at the Mayfield candle factory will be eight, which he calls an absolute miracle.