According to the Pentagon, more than 300 Kentucky National Guard troops deployed to tornado devastated communities where up to 80 people were killed.
The National Guard supports recovery efforts, performs law enforcement responsibilities, and clears debris. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also there to set up emergency power and get critical public facilities and services back up and running.
On Friday and Saturday, tornadoes tore across Kentucky and other states, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, and Arkansas. Officials are still investigating the colossal damage and searching for missing individuals.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency director traveled Sunday to survey the damage. Kentucky got the worse of the tornadoes to the point where Governor Andy Beshear requested an emergency disaster declaration. President Joe Biden granted it on Saturday.
Kirby said that the Kentucky National Guard had called more than 300 personnel to duty, including 81 in law enforcement, 80 in recovery support, and 44 in debris clearance.
FEMA has given the Corps of Engineers two missions. One includes debris removal, supporting critical public facilities and infrastructure assessment, and doing engineering and public works.
