Storms/Tornadoes Cause Widespread Devastation

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...President Barack Obama phoned Governor Steve Beshear Saturday, while Beshear viewed the storm damage in southern Kenton County, and pledged federal support for the victims of the severe storms in Kentucky this week. Beshear took the call from President Obama while at the Piner-Fiskburg Fire Department. Governor Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson and other lawmakers toured devastated areas across the Commonwealth Saturday after powerful storms and tornadoes caused widespread damage in forty Kentucky counties Friday. Beshear and Abramson, along with Senator Robert Stivers and Senator Damon Thayer, toured heavy damage in communities in West Liberty in Morgan County, Salyersville in Magoffin County and Piner in Kenton County. They were joined by Representative John Will Stacy in West Liberty, Representative John Short in Salyersville, and Representative Adam Koenig in Piner. Lieutenant Governor Abramson also visited East Bernstadt in Laurel County  with Senator Tom Jenson. More than 220 National Guard Troops have been deployed to assist Johnson, Laurel, Magoffin, Menifee and Morgan counties with storm-related damages. After visiting catastrophic damages from Friday's severe storms and tornadoes, Governor Steve Beshear spoke with both President Barack Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to relay critical emergency information and reaffirm Kentucky's commitment to get relief to citizens quickly. Governor Beshear said, "The scope and magnitude of devastation in some of our communities is unlike anything I have ever seen." Governor Beshear says he's been in close contact with President Obama since Thursday to ensure we will have the resources our families will need to recover from these storms.