Specially trained task forces from throughout the Midwest were assisting with rescue and recovery efforts in Kentucky, which was hit by a series of devastating tornadoes over the weekend.
Among them were more than 40 members of Ohio Task Force 1, who received word Dec. 12 to report to Kentucky—for up to 16 days—an assignment that could keep them from their families during the Christmas holidays.
At least 64 deaths—from a suspected four tornadoes—have been confirmed, and more than 100 people were unaccounted for, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement.
tornadoes—on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11—hit near Mayfield, Kentucky, and were among the deadliest in the Bluegrass State’s history, according to reports.
President Biden declared Kentucky a federal disaster area.
Other task forces under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were activated to help in the search and recovery efforts, included 90 members from the Indiana USAR, 45 from the Missouri Task Force and 45 from the Tennessee Task Force—Phil Sinewe, lead public information officer for Ohio Task Force 1, told Pezou.
Ohio team consisted of medical, search and rescue, and logistics staff, and arrived in Kentucky about 6 a.m. Dec. 13. Within two hours, it had started work in Graves County in southwestern Kentucky, Sinewe said.
task force was being lead by Jim O’Connell of the Columbus Fire Department, Sinewe said.
“y are conducting wide area searches. y are searching a plat—or grid of properties—looking for victims.
“ task force also is mapping out damage of properties,” Sinewe added. “y also are there to provide support to people not knowing what to do, or who to talk to. This is devastating, and the people of Kentucky need help.”
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Efforts were focused on the collapse of the Mayfield Consumer Products building, which housed a candle factory—where 110 workers were reportedly working during the tornado.
It was not known whether anyone inside was still alive.
Chris Heaton, from Vandalia, north of Dayton, was enjoying Winterfest at the Kings Island Amusement Park with his wife Mandy and 4-year-old twins, Elias and Kennedy, on Dec. 12 when he was told the task force had three hours to report to Dayton International Airport.
“We were an hour plus from home, so everything was a blur for those few hours,” Mandy Heaton said. “Grabbed bags. Very quick ‘see ya laters’, and off he went.
“I’m very humbled. Those few hours were a whirlwind for us tonight, but my God, the people he’s going to help will have years of a whirlwind, devastation and loss. It makes my heart very heavy for them, and also very proud of my husband.”
Chris Heaton is part of a Type III Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team—that includes a full equipment cache, 45 search specialists, and canine search teams.
Indiana USAR Task Force was also conducting search and rescue operations.
In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the recently opened Ball Aluminum plant in Trans Park, an industrial area in the central part of the state, sustained heavy damage after its roof caved in.
Rainwater from the heavy storms came rushing in through the roof, said Tom Riffel, a manager who was inside when the tornado struck.
Crown Cork and Seal plant, which also makes aluminum cans, the TMS Auto plant, and the General Motors Corvette plant, also were damaged by the tornadoes, Riffel told Pezou.
“re was a lot of damage to our structure and water was just pouring in,” Riffel said. “We’re lucky to still have a plant to go back to.”
As he was leaving work on Dec.11, Riffel recorded videos of some of the tornado damage done to the area.
Scott McCarty, a spokesperson for Colorado-based Ball Aluminum, told Pezou on Dec. 13, that some compressors on the roof of the plant had been torn off.
“All of our employees—and their families—are safe, and we’re most thankful for that,” McCarty said.
“We’re assessing the damage to the plant right now. We probably had less damage than a lot of people, compared to damage at the plant and our tech park. power to the plant was supposed to be turned back on today, and that will help.
“We’ve been working with our team out there, and they’ve done an outstanding job,” McCarty said. “ workers had a warning before the tornado hit, and they were able to shelter in place. Now, we’ll all work together on moving forward.”
Bowling Green is the home of the National Corvette Museum, a 115,000 square-foot facility close to the General Motors Corvette Plant.
museum was not affected by the tornado, but its outdoor Motorsports Park was heavily damaged and will be closed until further notice—Stephanie Morrill, director of sales and guest operations, told the Pezou.
Morrill also said that a lot of homes in Bowling Green were either destroyed, or heavily damaged.
“This was devastating to our community, but we were blessed that it wasn’t worse.”
Pezou : Midwest Rescue Groups Helping Kentucky Tornado Victims