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Deadly Tornadoes Slam Through Six States; Victims Describe Deadly Tornadoes' Fury As Families Await Word On Loved Ones; Tornado Destroys Kentucky Jail Overnight; Deputy Dies In Tornado At Candle Factory. Aired 9-10p ET

Aired December 11, 2021 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[21:00:00]

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RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): They told me that they are still processing the fact that they are now astronauts and the impact this will have on them moving forward. Rachel Crane, CNN, Launch Site One, Texas.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Destruction and devastation after 30 tornadoes strike six states overnight killing dozens. A candlelight factory employing Kentucky live stream to our pleas for help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are trapped. Please give us some help. We're at the candle factory and Mayfield.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People desperately seeking their loved ones.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been looking for everything 10:30 this morning, tonight. Please help me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Biden offers federal support.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is one of those times when we aren't Democrats or Republicans. Sounds like hyperbole, but it's real. For all Americans, we stand together as United States of America. And I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emergency crews searching for survivors, residents reeling from the scale of the disaster.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's stuff you see on TV, it doesn't happen in your town until it happens in your town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: I'm Pamela Brown in Mayfield, Kentucky, the epicenter of the deadliest December day for tornadoes on record. At least 70 people are fear dead. There is so much heartbreak surrounding where I am right now.

Take a look. This is what remains of the candle factory here in town leveled by a tornado. Remarkably some 40 people were rescued from this wreckage, but dozens remain missing.

Late this afternoon, Kentucky's governor says it will be quote, a miracle if anybody else is found alive in it, end quote.

And all more than 30 tornadoes raked across six states. CNN meteorologist say one single long track twister may have ripped a 20 -- 250-mile swath of damage from Arkansas to Kentucky, that would be a record. Winds ripped apart in Amazon warehouse, in Western Illinois, killing at least six people there.

The wreckage is exceedingly dangerous for rescue crews who are still working right now. Painstakingly searching for survivors. And Arkansas, tornado decimated a nursing home. At least one person was killed there. Many people were trapped in at least 20 injured. President Biden has approved a federal emergency declaration and says he does plan to go to the hard hit areas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: This is likely to be one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history. The federal government will do everything, everything you can possibly do to help.

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BROWN: And take a look at the front page of tomorrow's Louisville Courier Journal. Take a look right here. One word, headline, devastation, that sums it up. That is what I am seeing as far as the eye can see. The one main photo and illustration of what we're seeing all around us tonight. This town decimated metal beams, bricks, debris all that's left behind if so many homes, so many small businesses, so many schools, just mountains of debris. Schools which were last night which are decorated for the holidays. Now they are gone.

Our correspondents are on the scene of those areas shattered by the tornadoes. They're following all the latest rescue efforts. One hard hit area in Western Kentucky is Dawson Springs. That is a popular tourist destination. Ed Lavandera is there. Ed, this is a small town that is really felt the brunt of the tornado that swept through.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No question, Pamela. This is an area that has been shredded and torn apart by this tornado that touchdown here. When we first arrived a few hours ago we came across a two men who had spent the entire night from midnight when they first arrived here with a four wheeler. They walked into this neighborhood behind me pulling people out, broken bones. A local hospital tells us that they treated about 100 different people with traumatic injuries from this area.

We are in Hopkins County in the town of Dawson Springs which is about 70 miles east of Mayfield and this is a community where the medical examiner tells us that in this county 10 people were killed, many of those people from this area that we are in and where the homes look exactly like this. There are cars mangled and stacked on top of each other. Houses not just simply knocked over by the storm, but shredded and splintered. All you see in some cases is the front porches and that nothing else left.

We saw a family going hand by hand through the debris trying to find whatever belongings they could find pictures, clothing, whatever they could muster to find and pull apart from that debris. These heartbreaking scenes have been playing out throughout the day here in this community.

[21:05:04]

Earlier today the governor of Kentucky paid a visit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D) KENTUCKHY: My dad's hometown Dawson springs population owe (ph) 2,700. They're going to lose a whole lot of people. One block from my grandparent's house there's no house standing. There's no house standing and we don't know where all those people are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And Pamela we're here on a hilltop the cell reception has been very spotty, power is out. This is a city that is left in complete darkness tonight. There has been a shelter set up in some cottages at a nearby State Park to help the many people who have been left homeless.

And before the night fell for good, we just spoke with one gentleman who described he was coming back and he was trying to pick out some belongings from the rubble of his home. And he told me that he had been tracking the storm as it was approaching on his -- on the radar.

And when he noticed that it was coming this way that it was hitting this neighborhood, he said I'm not sticking around here. He took off and it was probably a decision that could very well have saved his life because there is no home left. It is splintered. It is shredded apart.

It's hard to imagine when you walk around this neighborhood, Pamela, when you see the state that the homes are in, it is impossible to imagine who could have survived if they had been inside some of these homes when this tornado struck here last night. Pamela?

BROWN: Right. So many people still in shock about the damage. They knew a tornado was coming. There was about 20 minutes heads up here and Mayfield where I am right now. But still no one expected it to be this bad. CNN's Brynn Gingras is here with me in Mayfield. Brynn, so much devastation and every turn here in the downtown area.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is I mean Pam, our crew actually entered Mayfield this evening on a four lane highway and the minute you see the sign Welcome to Mayfield, it's like you entered a whole different world. It is that devastating the juxtaposition between the areas just outside inside this town and to where we are now. Let me get out of the way so you can see some of what we are experiencing, really about the center of town.

But quite honestly, as you look around, it's hard to tell if what you're seeing has been brought here from the tornado or if this is some of the impact that was from the tornado because I'm seeing signs that I'm looking on a map don't exactly belong here. But you can see everything is as Ed said it same thing shredded.

And you know, Pam, covering these tornadoes over your career, you start to see these similar signs, but tornado, the trees that are just limbs and have no leaves, the bricks that have fallen to rubble, these are all the similar signs. But to a degree that quite frankly, many people I'm sure had never seen in their careers or in their lifetimes.

Recently, we just actually saw a few emergency crews. I saw a police car bringing -- rather a fire department car bringing an ATV down this street. That is where the candle factory is further down the road. And of course that is where efforts are still to try to find so many of those people that were trapped inside that building. Hundred -- More than 100 workers they are working around the clock trying to meet the Christmas times demand of sales that they were dealing with.

And of course, we know many of those people fear dead. We know that the latest recovery from those or rescue rather was very early in the morning hours today. So certainly, we are expecting to get continue to get more updates on that.

But as it's nightfall now when the sun comes up tomorrow, there's just going to be more devastation, more heartbreak for so many people in this particular part of Kentucky and of course across the state. Pam.

BROWN: Yes, absolutely. We heard Governor Beshear say that it would be a miracle if anyone else was pulled out from that candle factory alive. 40 though miraculously were rescued there but still so many people unaccounted for here in Kentucky and beyond. Brynn, thanks so much.

And now let's go to Edwardsville, Illinois, that is where we find -- that as a sign of that partially collapsed Amazon warehouse. Polo Sandoval is there. Polo, the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker spoke earlier this evening. He is the one who confirmed that six people had died in that building collapse. What else did he say?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a disheartening update for the family members, obviously who've been waiting for work here, Pamela. And as we heard from the Governor, as you point out, they're now saying that it wasn't two but in fact, it was six people who lost their lives when -- what is believed to have been an EF three tornado ripped through this part of Western Illinois. In fact, you could see a large void in what used to be an enclosed warehouse, where really potentially dozens of employees showed up to work last night to carry out their shift but instead that severe weather, interrupting, interrupting things last night. And again, we now know six people confirmed dead.

And then what he's adding to the heartbreak is also more news that we heard tonight from authorities that this is now transition from a search and rescue to a search and recovery mission.

[21:10:04]

One local fire official here telling us earlier that there is no hope of finding anybody alive, or at least anybody being pulled from that rubble anymore. So at this point, the operations here have been called off for the day and expect it to resume again tomorrow night as they search for any side of anybody that may have been lost when that tornado ripped through the region here.

Now in terms of what we heard from the Governor, I want you to hear directly from him as he offers some words of condolence for many of those families that were affected, and that tornado touched down last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D) ILLINOIS: Please know that the people of Illinois stand with you. We are one Illinois. In this moment, and in the days, months and years to come, you are not alone. We will stand with you to help you through your grief. And then to honor your loved ones. May their memory be a blessing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Governor Pritzker adding that he is in contact, actually, his office in contact with Amazon right now is that company pledging their full support. In fact, just a short while ago actually heard from Jeff Bezos, former CEO and chairman of the company in a tweet that he posted a short while ago, Bezos' tweeting that the news from Edwardsville, which is where we are tonight, is tragic.

We're heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there. And our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. Bezos go down to tweet all of the Edwardsville -- all of Edwardsville rather should know that the Amazon team is committed to supporting them, and we will be by their side through their crisis. We extend our fullest gratitude to all the incredible first responders who have worked so tirelessly at the site.

There so of course many questions here as to what kind of protocols and policies were actually in place to ensure the safety of those workers in the event of severe weather. We heard from officials earlier tonight, Pam, that this facility actually did not have a basement.

So obviously one of the many questions that we have is what kind of protocols were in place for employees to potentially shelter in place or seek shelter, if there would be the threat of severe weather, which is sadly what we saw take place last night.

In the meantime, again, the operations basically wrapping up for the night here in Western Illinois, and they do hopes have hopes of going back through the rubble tomorrow to see if there are any possible victims. But again, a heartbreaking headline out of here is that they have no hope of any more survivors being pulled from the rubble.

BROWN: It's heartbreaking indeed. Polo Sandoval, thank you. And our next guest has long roots here in Mayfield, Kentucky, Sam Brown is the owner of Gibson's Pharmacy, as well as his father before him. Thank you so much for joining us, Sam. Just tell us what you found after the tornado move through what you have seen what you've experienced.

SAM BROWN, OWNER OF DESTROYED PHARMACY: Oh, it's a -- it's a nightmare that that you just never wake up from the destruction and devastation just unimaginable.

P. BROWN: Mayfield is a town of 10,000 people, it has such a strong, so much pride, so much strength. Your father owned the pharmacy before you. Tell us a little bit about the pharmacy, about Mayfield. What do you want people to know about this community?

S. BROWN: Well, we're resilient. My dad spent the better part of 40 years building that business. He passed away in February. And honestly, I'm thankful that he's no longer around to see what's become the business he loved. There's just really nothing left.

P. BROWN: I'm so sorry. Were you able to recover any sentimental items from the pharmacy?

S. BROWN: We've been leaving. We went up last night after the tornado passed and we'd gotten word. The pharmacy was destroyed and we grabbed what we could and we spent today going through rubble and just trying to get -- to get just whatever, whatever was able to be saved and grab a few things a day ads here and there that we were able to find. It's just an emotional draining day.

P. BROWN: I know you're still absorbing the shock from it and just, you know, losing your business such a vital resource here and the town. And you're seeing your entire town square here where I am decimated. How are you holding up? I mean your friends. Do you know anyone who was harmed from the tornado?

[21:15:16]

S. BROWN: We have several friends who lost their houses. Thankfully our house was spared. The tornado missed us but 200-300 yards so very close. The candle factory you hear about is just right down the road from our house. About 10 of us crammed in -- crammed into a storm shelter and put a mattress over the kids and thankfully our house was spared.

But it's, you know, there are a lot of people whose friends of ours who hunkered down in their basement and when the tornado pass, there was no upper level their house. They were looking at the sky. So it's just heartbreaking to see these pictures and hear these stories. We're fortunate to still be able to go home tonight to her house. We don't have power but, you know, we were going to make do -- we'll be back -- we'll be back at the pharmacy tomorrow digging back the rubble.

P. BROWN: Yes. What do you want people to know watching right now? What do you want them to know about Mayfield and how they can help? What does this community need right now?

S. BROWN: Mayfield is just salt of the earth people. Just the heart of America. And in Mayfield needs full support from our state, from our country. We're not a city with massive resources. We're a town of 10,000. And there's not much left of the town. So we need all the relief we can get.

P. BROWN: I'm from Kentucky. I love Kentuckians. They are salt of the earth people. And I have no doubt that people across the country will rally around those in Mayfield and beyond those who are devastated from this tornado. Sam Brown, thank you and best of luck with everything moving forward rebuilding here in your town rebuilding your pharmacy. Thank you.

S. BROWN: Thank you. Thanks for having me on.

P. BROWN: And for more information about how you can help tornado victims go to cnn.com/impact.

The devastation extends beyond here in Kentucky where I am. In Arkansas, nursing home was destroyed. A top official from the area where that home is located joins me next.

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BROWN: This tornado disaster is now responsible for at least 84 deaths and five of six states that were hit. At least six people died in the collapse of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois. 45 people got out alive there. But at this hour, it is still not clear how many people may have been in that warehouse when the EF three tornado hit there. A shift change was happening at the time officials say.

And right here in Kentucky, where I am, from here in Mayfield to Bowling Green and beyond, we are seeing the disaster grow worse as well. There is just so much heartache all around. At least 70 people are fear dead in this wonderful state. The governor warns that number could top 100. Children are among the 12 known dead in Warren County.

And in Tennessee tonight one person is missing in Lake Court. Four people are dead statewide. The governor believes effective storm warnings kept the numbers from being much higher.

And in northeastern Arkansas, at least two people were killed in the tornadoes, one at a nursing home destroyed by the storm. That is where five other people were hurt. And with me now on the phone is Judge Marvin Day. He is the chief executive of Craighead County, where the nursing home is located. Judge, first of all, how are those injured people doing right now? And where did things stand as far as recovery and damage?

JUDGE MARVIN DAY, CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, ARKANSAS CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Good evening, Pamela. Were -- The people in nursing home I've not gotten updates from the people that were severely injured. Today, the remaining there were approximately 68 patients there at that nursing home.

I've got to really compliment the staff there and the owner of the nursing home they did a great job and found other nursing homes in our area for those people to stay and got their families involved so that they were aware of where their loved ones were and so, you know, so they're doing very well.

I think our recovery effort has wrapped up. It really wrapped up mill the night last night. Everyone was accounted for in the nursing home. And we didn't have any other issues. We got all the roads cleared, sometime between midnight and 1:00 local time last night.

BROWN: I want to show our viewers satellite images of that nursing home from before. And then after this tornado outbreak. We can see from the air just how devastating this storm was. Your licensed professional engineer, I'm wondering how surprised Are you that this building was no match?

DAY: You know, it's -- tornadoes are really quite powerful. And as I'm sure those, your what you're showing shows that. You know, we really consider ourselves greatly blessed and very thankful that there were not more people lost in that storm. It's hard to imagine anybody surviving in that facility and we're very, very thankful for that and sad for the life that was lost.

BROWN: Can you tell us how much advance warning people in your county got ended people listen to those warnings.

[21:25:06]

DAY: You know, from everything I've heard, you know, I know on our local news, they have been talking about the potential of this storm coming through for the last two days, that it could be serious and to be aware. Everyone I've spoke to the tornado sirens went off 20 to 30 minutes before anything happened.

You know, most everyone that I've heard heated (ph) those warnings were -- and were in their safe place when the tornadoes hit. So I feel like that our early warning systems were a success and our meteorologists did a great job getting everyone prepared for this.

BROWN: Overall, how is the community doing? It's just such a shock to have a tornado of this magnitude sweep through and cause so much damage. How was -- how are people doing in your community?

DAY: You know, there -- there's definitely some that are, you know, still dealing with the shock and disbelief of what happened, but I'll tell you, it's very humbling to see the people of Craighead County and our surrounding counties, and how they all pull together, to help each other and, you know, we had relief groups that are here in our community that were patching up roofs and get people back in their homes today really, just a lot.

And, you know, so it's -- just wonderful to see the community come together and take care of each other and get them a place to stay and food, and everything they need. So, you know, we were -- we, you know, proud to see the sun come up today, and it's going to be OK.

BROWN: All right. Judge Marvin Day, thank you for coming on.

DAY: Yes, yes. Thank you. Have a good night.

BROWN: Well, federal officials and volunteers are racing to help people and communities hit hard by the tornadoes. How they're trying to help, up next. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[21:30:59]

BROWN: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Pamela Brown reporting live from Mayfield, Kentucky tonight after a deadly string of tornadoes devastated towns across the Midwest and Southeast. Tonight, we've learned that at least 84 people are dead across eight states and most officials expect that number to rise.

The rush is on to find survivors, especially inside the Candle factory. That's just a few miles away from where I'm standing. Dozens are believed to still be missing. And we've learned that supervisors at the business are helping first responders on the scene identify where workers were likely to have been located when a tornado flattened the building.

And the last few hours, we've learned that at least six people were killed when an Amazon warehouse collapsed in Edwardsville, Illinois. The death toll has also recently risen in Missouri and in Tennessee.

And back here in Mayfield, Kentucky. Our crews just caught up with one resident whose home was hit by the tornado. Robert Miller described not only the horror of the hurricane, but the rush to help other victims and the immediate aftermath.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT MILLER, HOME DAMAGED BY TORNADO: We got our closet with -- put some mattresses inside because, you know, it's not the new to hear tornado warnings around this area. So we're going out on this front porch. And I remember seeing just the -- all the power -- just last night, I remember the power just went out, the sky turned blue. And then I've seen the funnel cloud over that way.

I ran inside. I told my other buddies in bed and he's out here trying to finish his cigarette. He barely made it back inside, man. That was it. (INAUDIBLE) so fast. Just everything started caving in. It was nuts. Right next door about three houses down. People were screaming. I helped the little lady out from rubble. So this is my first thought as was everybody else. I checked everybody on the house and everybody was good. And then there's a bunch of people on other street, about five, six people doing CPR. And there's, I think, it was a little boy. And I heard he didn't make it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Oh, that is just so sad. Joining me now is Kirby Willis, the logistics volunteer leader for Team Rubicon, which specializes in disaster response. Kirby, you're about 20 miles away from where I I'm. Tell us about the damage you're seeing around you.

KIRBY WILLIS, TEAM RUBICON LOGISTICS VOLUNTEER LEADER: Good evening. Thank you for having me. So we are currently in Bitton (ph). And we have seen a lot today. I've been a part of a recon team of six today. And we have been out assisting local emergency management with some clearance of various roadways here in the Bitton (ph) area.

And we've had the wonderful pleasure of working alongside first responders in the community. And it's just -- it's mind-blowing. And it's hard to put into words what we've seen today and it's just something that we are very fortunate that we have the resources and the skill set that we're able to help this community begin to rebuild.

BROWN: Tell us a little bit more about that. What kind of resources you have in the skill set to help these devastated members of the community?

WILLIS: So the resources that our organization provides in this initial response is saw (ph) teams and those of us that specialize in building out these, what we call an operation. And those of us that come in with first responder military skill sets that can assist communities and building out a plan. But right now we have people that are on the way again who specialize in Incident Command volunteer management, saw (ph) work as our team today worked with.

[21:35:13]

We have other additional assets coming in, as well as regional and national assets from around the country that are coming in to assist this community.

BROWN: And have you spoken to any other residents just about the horror of what they lived through in this new reality they're facing today?

WILLIS: We spoke with a couple of residents in the -- on the street that we were working on today. And fortunately, they were actually not home yesterday during the storm, and they came home this morning to see a mixed variety of devastation. But they were very welcoming to the first responders and as well as our organization for assisting their community and cleaning up and getting their streets and community get back to some form of normality.

BROWN: For people who want to help, what do folks on the ground devastated by this need the most?

WILLIS: They -- it's really hard to say right now. They're -- this is such a -- it's in such -- excuse me. We -- it's in such an infancy right now that fiscal donations as well as support, community support is the best thing that local, regional and national people can provide. If anyone is interested in donating to our organization, they can do so at teamrubiconusa.org.

And they can donate fiscal or -- excuse me -- monetary donations as well as they can sign up to be a grey shirt volunteer, where they can get deployed to hopefully assist the Kentucky community or other communities that were impacted by the storms of last night.

BROWN: All right. Kirby Willis, thank you for your time and everything that you're doing.

WILLIS: Thank you for having me.

BROWN: For more information about how you can help tornado victims, go to cnn.com/impact. Kentucky's Governor says the tornadoes that hit here were the most devastating in the state's history.

Meteorologist Chad Myers joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[21:41:18]

BROWN: And we are back now with our breaking news coverage. It is a cold, just a bone chilly night here in Mayfield, Kentucky, where the tornado damage around me is stunning. Just mountains of debris, of rubble. You see behind me here, wood, metal all piled on top of each other. These were ones brick buildings, historic brick buildings now decimated.

This way where where I am, a block away from the main town square here in Mayfield, a town of 10,000 people. And you can see, you know, 24 hours ago, this town was filled up with Christmas lights. People were gearing up for the holiday season. There were festivities and now this town was wiped out by this massive tornado that came through.

And people here in this community are just understandably stunned as they look around, drive through their town and just see the devastation here. It's going to be a long road ahead for rebuilding. And the mayor of Mayfield telling CNN earlier today that the storms left her city looking like, quote, like matchsticks.

And we've been hearing harrowing stories of this tornado nightmare throughout the day. Here is a look at what witnesses are telling CNN and our affiliates so far, along with the families waiting tonight for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm worried for my wife. I won't afraid enough if she stay on somewhere safe. I hope she was safe. I'm begging, please come so we get connected. Please come. I'm looking for you, babe. We've been looking for you. (INAUDIBLE) we are all looking for you, my babe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just unreal. Like it's unreal. Just looking at all the wood on the ground and the nails. And it's just -- it's stuff you see on TV and, you know, the news channel, like it doesn't happen in your town until it happens in your town. And then you have to try to figure out what to do from there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were standing. They had us all, you know, evacuated to the shelter, the safety area. And we were there. They took attendance. And then the next thing you know, there was like a little gust of wind and I'm like, why are the wind blowing in the factory.

We felt the wind. My ears start popping. And then it was like the building, like we all just rocked back and forth. And then boom, everything fell on us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A girl that had a newborn blew the roof off her house and she just so happen to wake up right before it happened and was able to get the baby out of there before it actually hit. So --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did they go to the bathtub or something?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She didn't say where they went, but they at least was able to get the baby out of the room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a lot of devastation that we've not seen in my years of working in emergency services. I've always had that fear of it coming to my hometown, seeing the devastation in other towns through the years but always was just in fear of it hitting here and reality hit last night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We live in Edwardsville. We lost power. So I decided to come down here to see what was going on. I had no idea the building look that bad. And I'm just -- I'm worried sick. I just want to know if he's OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our downtown looks like matchsticks. I walked out this morning. Our whole city government campus is destroyed. Our city government -- the Mayor's office and the police department share a building. It is destroyed across the driveway.

[21:45:05]

The parking lot is our fire -- first fire station, it is destroyed. The fire chief had to put -- connect -- change to his truck and pull the doors open to get the ambulances and the fire trucks out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And tonight, a law enforcement official right here in Mayfield says he lost his entire building, part of the county jail in the same devastating storm that killed one of his deputies. George Workman says he was forced to evacuate more than 80 inmates from the Graves County Jail after the tornado ripped the building apart. But that's not all. One of his deputies was killed while watching over a group of inmates who were on work release at that now destroyed Candle factory.

Graves County jailer George Workman is here with me now. I am so sorry, George, for your loss and all that you have gone through. My heart breaks for you. First of all, how are you doing?

GEORGE WORKMAN, GRAVES COUNTY JAILER: Well, (INAUDIBLE). It's day by day, hour by hour, I guess, let's say. Time just seems to be dragging on. You know, it's I know it was just last night, but it seems like it's been a lot longer.

BROWN: I'm sure it is. I mean, this is your worst nightmare. Tell us what it was like. What happened at the jail when the tornado hit?

WORKMAN: Well, it hit the top floor of the courthouse and blew it basically off onto the jail which is adjacent to it. And it hit on the roof of the jail which didn't support the white very well and busted some cross beams that were crucial to the integrity.

And then, of course, I just -- I was at my residence in a closet due to a tornado come through there. And it had just hit at my house. And within about five minutes or so, I've been getting a phone call from my deputies advised me that there was a direct hit there.

BROWN: And I know that throughout the day, you anticipated that there could be a tornado or bad storms coming through, what kind of preparations do you know -- did the jail do for this?

WORKMAN: We basically had to address it in a staff meeting the day before and advised everyone to be ready for this. And then we had supervisors that were preparing cars, placing them in particular position where they would be ready if needed. Had the list all together for different agencies to be able to contact if we needed assistance and had evacuation plans all set up. Anticipating if something big happen that we would be able to deal with it.

BROWN: What do you want people to know who are watching right now, what do you want them to know about Mayfield? I mean, we're standing here just a block from the courthouse, right? This is where so much action and activity is, full of Christmas cheer.

WORKMAN: Yes. Well, this is where my heart is, like so many in this area. This place was founded by a group of blue collar, hardworking individuals that cared mostly for their families and for the communities and that has never left this area. And we're the type of people that will work hard and we'll get this back.

And I know it's tough for us all right now. However, I know the type of people we have, and I know that we will rebuild. And we will rebuild stronger than we were. That's just the type of people that we have here.

BROWN: What are the -- tell us about the kind of people here in Mayfield, the town of 10,000, a town of, I know, so much pride and heart in this town. WORKMAN: Well, as you know, we -- I heard someone talking about the football stadium earlier. We were proud of our athletics. We have one of the best football programs in the state here as far as high school football girls. We have a great basketball program at another school. We have a pride that goes into that.

And we have that work ethic that starts with those individuals in -- at an early age and it carries on. And it's mostly because of the way that they're raised here in these communities.

[21:50:09]

And Mayfield Graves County has a very solid core of family values and caring for one another. And that's what makes them successful, just like on sports and anything else. They care for one another. And they rise to the occasion for each other.

BROWN: And I have no doubt that is happening in this regard. That strong work ethic, that heart, all of that will no doubt be put to work and rebuilding even better, as you said, than before. Mayfield where your heart is, as you said, George.

Thank you for sharing your story. I can't imagine all the emotions that you're going through right now. But it's so important for people all across the country to hear directly from folks like yourself, who live here, who work here and who have been involved with the rescue efforts. Thank you.

WORKMAN: Thank you.

BROWN: We'll be right back.

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BROWN: Tonight for Mayfield, Kentucky, the deadliest tornado outbreak in years, the loss of life and property just devastating. The scope of the tragedy only now becoming clear. At least 30 tornadoes ripping through six states and here's just some of what we seen here today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D-KY): This event is the worst, most devastating, most deadly tornado event in Kentucky's history. We will be north of at least 70 lives lost here in Kentucky. I think we will have lost more than 100 people and I think it could rise significantly.

[21:55:23]

LT. DEAN PATTERSON, KENTUCKY STATE POLICE: We're seeing things that none of us have ever seen before. The damage here is indescribable. It's changed the landscape of the city that we know here in Mayfield.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm looking for my wife (INAUDIBLE). So if anyone knows (INAUDIBLE) at my wife. I won't afraid enough if she stay on somewhere safe. I hope she was safe. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The windows start breaking. Dogs flying through the air. I didn't know what to do. Walls -- it feel like they was caving in. It was very scary.

JESSIE NEWTON, STORM SURVIVOR: I just want everybody to know that you are not alone. Today Kentucky is absolutely united. We are united with our people.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is one of those times when we aren't Democrats or Republicans. Sounds like hyperbole, but it's real. We're all Americans. We stand together as United States of America. And so I say to all the victims, you're in our prayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Unbearably sad. Thank you for joining me this evening. I'm Pamela Brown. I'll see you again tomorrow night starting at 6:00 Eastern.

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