Sunday 12 December 2021

Kentucky tornadoes: up to 100 feared dead in historic US storms

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An aerial view of the city of Mayfield in Kentucky after a tornado struck. More than 20 tornadoes have caused destruction across southern and central states in the US.

Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What do you know of the level of devastation caused by the latest US tornado?

2. What was Biden's reaction to the event?

3. What was the reaction of the witnesses and survivors?

5 comments:

  1. 1 - Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said the path of devastation was about 227 miles (365km) long, which, if confirmed, would surpass the 218-mile Tri-State tornado in 1925, which killed at least 695 people and destroyed 15,000 homes across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
    2 - On Saturday, at least five central and southern US states reported deaths after what president Joe Biden said was “likely to be one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history”, with an estimated 22 tornadoes touching down. Biden added that the federal government will find measures of influence and assistance.
    3 - A small city largely leveled by winds estimated at up to 200mph. Survivors rushed to gather their families and find shelter, while a damaged water tower meant no running water for the devastated community as of early Sunday. (Whiteford said 45 people had survived, but authorities were uncertain Saturday evening whether anyone was still unaccounted for, as workers were in the midst of a shift change when the centre was struck by the tornado about 8.30pm Friday).

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1) Dozens remained unaccounted for on Sunday as rescuers worked overnight searching for survivors after what could be the longest tornado in US history left a trail of destruction from Arkansas to Kentucky, part of a vast storm front that it is feared may have killed at least 100 people.
    Temperatures were below freezing in the night in Mayfield, Kentucky, a small city largely leveled by winds estimated at up to 200mph. Survivors rushed to gather their families and find shelter, while a damaged water tower meant no running water for the devastated community as of early Sunday.
    Friday night’s storm was all the more unusual because it came in December, when colder weather normally limits tornadoes, said Victor Gensini, an extreme weather researcher at Northern Illinois University.
    2) Biden has approved a state of emergency declaration in Kentucky, adding federal resources to boost the state’s activation of more than 180 national guard members as well as state police. The state also is using armories as places of refuge for those in need of shelter.
    “I promise you, whatever is needed – whatever is needed – the federal government is going to find a way to provide it,” Biden said, adding that he would visit the affected areas once it was clear he was “not going to get in the way of the rescue and recovery”.
    3) The survivors rushed to gather their families and seek refuge, while the damaged water tower has left no running water for the devastated community since early Sunday. authorities weren't sure Saturday night if anyone was missing, as workers were in the midst of a shift when a tornado hit downtown around 8:30 pm on Friday

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1) This is possibly the longest-lasting tornado in U.S. history, which left a devastating trail from Arkansas to Kentucky, part of a vast storm front that it is feared could have killed at least 100 people.Friday night's storm was all the more unusual because it came in December, when colder weather usually limits tornadoes, said Victor Gensini, an extreme weather researcher at Northern Illinois University.
    2) Biden approved the declaration of a state of emergency in Kentucky, adding federal resources to activate the activities of more than 180 National Guard officers, as well as the state police. The State also uses armories as a refuge for those who need shelter.
    3) The survivors rushed to gather their families and seek shelter, while the damaged water tower has not provided running water for the destroyed community since early Sunday. Authorities weren't sure Saturday night if anyone was missing, as workers were in the middle of a shift when the tornado hit downtown.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1.Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said the path of devastation was about 227 miles (365km) long, which, if confirmed, would surpass the 218-mile Tri-State tornado in 1925, which killed at least 695 people and destroyed 15,000 houses across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
    2.Joe Biden said was “likely to be one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history”, with an estimated 22 tornadoes
    3. The survivors rushed to gather their families and seek shelter, while the damaged water tower has not provided running water for the destroyed community since early Sunday. Authorities weren't sure Saturday night if anyone was missing, as workers were in the middle of a shift when the tornado hit downtown.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1.Dozens remained unaccounted for on Sunday as rescuers worked overnight searching for survivors after what could be the longest tornado in US history left a trail of destruction from Arkansas to Kentucky, part of a vast storm front that it is feared may have killed at least 100 people.
    2. Biden has approved a state of emergency declaration in Kentucky, adding federal resources to boost the state’s activation of more than 180 national guard members as well as state police. The state also is using armories as places of refuge for those in need of shelter.
    3.45 people had survived, but authorities were uncertain Saturday evening whether anyone was still unaccounted for, as workers were in the midst of a shift change when the centre was struck by the tornado about 8.30pm Friday

    ReplyDelete

Angelina Jolie receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2013 Governors Awards

  Watch the interview and answer the question: What problem does Angelina raise in her acceptance speech?