Weather-Related Fatalities

Updated: Mar 04, 2012 7:26 PM EST

A string of violent storms demolished small towns in Indiana and cut off rural communities in Kentucky as an early season tornado outbreak killed more than three dozen people. Below is a state-by-state look at the current death toll numbers.

Total deaths: 39

By state:

Alabama: 1

Georgia: 1

Indiana: 13

Kentucky: 21

Ohio: 3

Tornado Survivor Dies In Louisville Hospital

• {Louisville, Kentucky}...Doctors at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville worked hard as 15 month old Angel Babcock clung to her life after she was found in a field near her home in New Pekin, Indiana Friday. But, Sunday, after being taken off life support, Babcock died at 4:10 P.M. of a traumatic brain injury. Angel Babcock had been the sole family survivor of a tornado that ripped through their home, killing her parents and two siblings. A neighbor says, in their last moments, the girl’s parents, Joesph Babcock, 21, Moriah Brough, 20, and her two siblings, Jaydon Babcock, 2, and Kendall Babcock, two months, who perished in the tornado were lying face-down in a hallway in their mobile home, holding hands and praying. Beverly Lanham, who lives next door, said her boyfriend, Jason Miller, tried in vain to save the family, going outside as the funnel cloud neared to warn them to get inside, while offering a place in his bigger, double-wide mobile home. Lanham said the twister picked Miller up and threw him and members of the family across the neighborhood off Old Pekin Road.

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.

Beshear Signs Executive Orders

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Governor Beshear has signed an executive order that will allow Kentuckians displaced by the storms to get up to a 30-day supply of needed medicines from a pharmacist. This is the first time this particular executive order has been issued. People who depend on regular supplies of maintenance medicines may have lost track of their medications in the aftermath of the storms. This order will not only allow for a temporary restoration of those drugs but will also allow pharmacists to dispense those prescriptions from facilities outside their regular pharmacies. This order will not allow for emergency refills of controlled substances. Governor Beshear declared a statewide emergency on Friday afternoon in order to allow local communities to access state resources and assistance without delay after multiple tornadoes and severe storms caused heavy damage across the state. Saturday, Governor Steve Beshear also signed a consumer protection executive order at the request of Attorney General Jack Conway to implement Kentucky's price-gouging laws.

Message From Congressman Hal Rogers

Congressman Hal Rogers released the following statement today, regarding the deadly
storms that swept across Kentucky March 2, 2012:

"Our region has suffered catastrophic loss from the deadly storms that swept across
the state over the last two days. My staff and I have been in contact with the
Governor's office, FEMA and Kentucky emergency management officials, along with
local first responders and volunteers. I commend all of our dedicated emergency
response teams and the Kentucky National Guard who have been diligently working to
save lives and provide immediate assistance. The people of Southern and Eastern
Kentucky are always resilient, and now it is time to pray and band together once
more. Cynthia and I send our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones
and we offer our prayers for peace and strength across the region."
--Congressman Rogers

Governor Beshear To Survey Tornado Damage

FRANKFORT, Ky.  (March 3, 2012) -- Governor Steve Beshear and Lieutenant
Governor Jerry Abramson are touring devastated areas across the
Commonwealth.  The powerful storms caused widespread damage in forty
Kentucky counties.

Gov. Beshear will view damages in West Liberty (Morgan County),
Salyersville (Magoffin County), and Piner (Kenton County) today along
with Adjutant General Ed Tonini, Senator Damon Thayer, of Georgetown,
and Senator Robert Stivers, of Manchester.  Lt. Gov. Abramson will visit
East Bernstadt in Laurel County.

More than 220 National Guard Troops have been deployed to assist
Johnson, Laurel, Magoffin, Menifee and Morgan counties with
storm-related damages. 

The Kentucky Department of Public Health has reported a total of 17
fatalities reported to the agency by local coroners.  Due to a
discrepancy in reporting, the number of fatalities in Menifee has been
changed.  Four fatalities have been reported in Laurel County, four in
Morgan County, three in Kenton County, two in Johnson County, two in
Menifee County, and two in Lawrence County.  Approximately 300 injuries
have been reported.

Gov. Beshear declared a statewide emergency Friday to allow local
officials immediate access to state resources to assist in public safety
and recovery efforts.  Ten counties have declared states of emergency:
Bath, Campbell, Johnson, Kenton, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Pendleton,
Rowan, and Trimble counties as well as the city of Paintsville. 



Trained spotters and law enforcement officers throughout the state
reported 13 tornadoes in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Emergency
Management.



Damage assessments and rescue missions continue.  Severe storms began
rolling across the Commonwealth Friday afternoon beginning in the far
western part of the state and moved north and east of the Ohio River
from Indiana. 





Donations and Assistance

Citizens are strongly discouraged from driving through damaged areas, or
traveling to damaged areas in an unsolicited effort to assist.
Emergency responders need unfettered access to roads to continue rescue
missions and assessment efforts.

Individuals wishing to provide assistance should contact their local Red
Cross agency to determine ways to help those affected by the storms.



Missing Persons

Friends or family who have been unable to locate loved ones since
Friday's storms are encouraged to register the missing person's
information on the Kentucky Emergency Management website at
www.kyem.ky.gov <http://www.kyem.ky.gov/>  or through the American Red
Cross Safe and Well Program at www.americanredcross.org
<http://www.americanredcross.org/> .  



Shelters Open

Several shelters have opened by the Red Cross to accommodate citizens
displaced by the storm:

*        Elliott County High School

Main Street

Sandy Hook, KY



*        Lawrence County High School

100 Bulldog Lane

Louisa, KY 



*        Grant County High School

715 Warsaw Rd.

Dry Ridge, KY



*       Laurel Fire Dept.

911 TLC Lane

London, KY

Confirmed Tornadoes In Kentucky...More Storms Expected

• {Frankfort, Kentucky}...Officials say at least 11 tornadoes hit Kentucky Wednesday. Governor Steve Beshear is urging Kentuckians to brace for another round of “punishing” storms that are expected to move across the state Friday. Beshear vowed Thursday to have the state’s emergency management system at full-alert and in close communications with officials throughout the state in case there is another round of strong storms. The National Weather Service reports EF2 tornadoes were confirmed in Russell and Casey counties, Hardin County, Grayson County, LaRue County, Ballard and McCracken counties, Morgan County and Muhlenberg County. EF1 tornadoes were confirmed in Henderson County, Muhlenberg County, Pulaski County and LaRue County. Governor Steve Beshear's office says Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Morgan, Muhlenberg and Owsley counties and the city of Hodgenville have declared local emergencies.