Late Friday, December 10th, devastating tornadoes have hit Kentucky and other mid-western states causing mass destruction and panic.

One tornado, being called the “Quad-State Tornado” ripped across four states in four hours (Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky),

Strong winds hit, causing significant damage to a candle factory in Kentucky, Amazon warehouse in Illinois, and nursing home in Arkansas. About 110 people were working inside the candle factory when the storm came; only 40 were found.

Entire neighborhoods have been wiped out and countless people are missing. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear gave an update on Monday afternoon saying 74 people have been confirmed dead in Kentucky alone and more than 100 others are unaccounted for; both figures are expected to grow. 

Meteorologists assume that climate change played a role in why these storms were so deadly and spread across various states. Research displays that climate change may be causing tornado alley to move East, out of the traditional tornado alley of the Great Plains and into parts of the Mississippi Valley.

On Wednesday, December 15h, President Joe Biden took a visit to Kentucky to assess the damage. Biden gave a speech in Dawson Springs where he stressed the need for unity during this troubling time. “There’s no red tornadoes or blue tornadoes. There are no red states or blue states when this stuff starts to happen. And I think, at least in my experience, it either brings people together or really knocks them apart,” President Biden said. 

“I didn’t know about the tornadoes until a couple of days after. When I found out, I was really concerned, especially because children died as well as adults,” says Senior Sydney Chessin. 

 Though Kentucky may seem very far, there are still ways you can help.  American Red Cross and Mayfield Community foundation are accepting donations. There are also GoFundMe and other fundraisers to donate to.