I have been through ice storms, blizzards, floods and even an earthquake, but a tornado is a very different experience. In 1974 i was 15 and lived in Ohio. My mom and dad and brother and myself went to my aunt and uncles house because we only lived about 5 miles apart. We saw the black rolling clouds with a greenish tint over top of us and the constant streaks of lightning with the whoosh of the wind blowing very hard. Then the warning sirens started going off, this was in the middle of the afternoon and it was so dark the street lights were coming on, but it did pass over and then we learned that just about an hour later the town of Xenia, Ohio had been annihilated. Many years later in the late 80's while in the Army a group of us was unloading railcars in Pinyon Canyon, Colorado, and we were watching the clouds coming over the Rocky Mountains, they looked just like those clouds I remembered in Ohio, black rolling clouds with a greenish tint. As we continued to watch those clouds they started to rotate, I was like OH NO, we are out here in the middle of nowhere and if that thing drops down it we could be in serious trouble. Then out of nowhere here comes a U.S. Air Force weather plane flying right into that storm, I was like those guys are NUTS, then we saw a couple of vans coming down the road to pick us up, THANK GOD, because by then that rotation was at least halfway or more to the ground and it was RIGHT OVER TOP of us. I think we set a speed record for how fast you could load a van, the vans took us to a safe building as we watched it pass on by, still halfway or more to the ground. Then a few days later we had a day off and took a scenic tour around the Colorado Springs area, the bus driver suddenly slammed on his brakes about throwing us out of our seats, we were like dude what is your problem, then he pointed to the right side of the bus and we looked out the window and there was a tornado on the ground, THANKFULLY going away from us. A tornado is one of nature's most intimidating, frightening and unforgettable experiences you will ever have. The silence, then all those sounds, the wind, and just the feeling you get when you actually see one is something you NEVER forget. To all those poor people who lived through those few minutes of fear and sheer terror, you have my sympathy and understanding. May God bless you and give you comfort and ease your pain. Just know there are millions of people all over the world thinking of you and wishing you well.
I lived in Mechanicsburg, Ohio at that time. Was about the same age as you. If I recall Xenia was hit a couple times in the ‘70s. I remember seeing a board from the lumber yard embedded in a huge tree when we went to check on some friends. One of the first times I saw my Dad cry.
Thank You For Sharing This I went through one in the mid west the ground underneath my feet shook as did everything in the house !! The Silence then the Freight train. Father in Jesus Name Help These People 🙏
Oh yeah.Thoses creepy,green algae looking clouds.Thats the time to hunker down.TY for your story.I can't imagine seeing that.Glad you are here to tell it.👍
All this drone footage of the devastation gives this disaster a totally new perspective, from all the reports this Tornado was one of the worse ever in US history.
@@SpaceTravel1776 - It is always the Worst when this happens at night, when people are Sleeping. In 1925 he Entire Town of Murphysboro, IL was turned into a pile of Rubble... Hundreds died. ... "March 18, 1925, the Great Tri-State Tornado tore across Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Southwest Indiana. With its rapid movement, monstrous size, and long track, the tornado took hundreds of lives and injured thousands." Happened again in 1957... not quite as bad. Over 30 deaths. Had Another, like a week ago... Not too bad. No Deaths... I saw this one that hit Kentucky coming, and was happy it passed us over.
It's been reported as being the worst to hit KENTUCKY in many many years, but it is NOT the "worst ever in US History". When it's been fully investigated, it may set the new record for the longest track tornado... ever.... but that hasn't been confirmed yet.
@@leokimvideo I don’t know why having the longest tornado path ever makes it “one of the worse in US History” when there are more important factors such as tornado strength and overall destruction and loss of life, but if you say so.
Absolutely tragic! Watching from the Netherlands, I feel such horror and sorrow. I hope that these poor people will get all the support that they need--immediately.
Thank you from a Kentucky resident. Help is on site in many forms, from many states and Kentucky, as well as the other affected states are so very grateful. Thank you.❤️
Thank you, drone guy. Without your work, we could never view scenes like this, overhead and detailed. Battered and crushed vehicles tossed around, big trees stripped, buildings totally unrecognizable, freight cars toppled. This is what an EF-5 does. And to get one at night is almost unimaginably bad. Just the recovery alone could take weeks.
I live in a county in Northern California that had extremely bad wildfire this summer. Four full months later, I passed a commercial car hauler just two days ago coming out of the corner of the county where the fire started, hauling a full load of burned-out cars. I doubt losing an emtire town takes weeks to clean up. Months, even years.
@@guymerritt4860 I can only relate to driving along the beach in my home town along the beach in the days after Katrina. I was lost in my own neighborhood, I had a paper route and knew every crack in the sidewalk. I had to use those memories to figure out exactly where I was.
I am very sorry for what happened to the people of Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas and Tennessee among other towns, the world is praying for you. Greetings from Venezuela.
This is absolutely heartbreaking!! Hear about it all over news but this just put it into a real perspective!! Thanks for your coverage and prayers to all
We have cyclone down under in Australia, but they are nothing compared to what you poor guys have re to put up with, We are so very sorry for your loss.
An EF4 tornado will have wind speeds between 116 and 200 mph (267 and 322 km/h). A Category 5 hurricane (tropical cyclone) has sustained wind speed of 155 mph (249 km/h) or higher. This had to be at least that for sure. So it's EF4 or maybe even EF5 which is the highest.
It is almost incomprehensible. Seeing this but being able to take it in as reality is hard. May people find the strength to go forward with much love and support.
I'vebeen through a tornado, not anything like this one, and I can tell you these people need your help. Any kind is appreciated. These are your neighbors and they ,need your help.
This is so incredibly sad. The loss of life, and property can never be replaced. As far as the eye can see, the town is gone. All we can do is pray for the families of those lost and for those that will be trying to rebuild their lives. Insurance companies need to cut out the BS and get these people paid forthwith.
Property can always be replaced. The value of Life does not equate with property ,.. but I agree the Insurance companies are crooks, we should not have them. Each town is capable of being self insured. I remember when Clinton and Bush asked for cash after Katrina, what a crzy time.
@@artstrology People like you who say "property can be replaced" need to shut up, tbh. YES, it's good if someone doesn't die, but, at the same time, if you lose your house and you are left with NOTHING, what is the point of surviving? The state, insurance nor government is going to give them a new home to replace the one they lost. I'm so sick of this mentality of "losing your home isn't that bad, at least you lived!" Shut up.
@@artstrology since you're trying to correct me, property is never fully replaced. Personal belongings can never be replaced. If people aren't insured, they have nothing to look forward too.
@@iamReddington If your house is so dam important, ... and that is your own reason to live,.. then what do the millions of houseless people do to keep their spirit alive ? You shut up. You are promoting suicide due to loss of material security. What a sap. Get busy !
@@iamReddington And btw, most people pay insurance to compensate for that fear , but even that is a rip off. Keep in mind, Mayfiled Kentucky probably made insurance companies billions up to this point, they do not even need money from other towns to pay out the losses to property. Average town of 2000 households makes Inasurance companies 3.5 to 4.5 million per year in pure profits just for homeowners and auto. Do the math.
EF4 to EF5 damage. I watched this tornado from 8:00pm EST, and it lasted until after 1:00am. This tornado was insane and scary. It had a path length of at least 150 miles, and a width of over .75 miles. Winds at 1,200 feet above ground were measured at 310 MPH or greater at its peak. Brick buildings are collapsed with only a few interior walls intact, cars were thrown 100+ yards away from their original place, large trees debarked with all branches being torn off, and houses were completely destroyed with some being entirely swept off their foundation with nothing left. Debris was lofted 5 miles high into the atmosphere and scattered several miles from the tornadoes path. This storm is unlike anything we've had in a very long time or possibly ever. It's the worst damage I've seen since 2013. I'm upset that the media, and a lot of meteorologists failed to bring this system to attention. Several meteorologists that weren't attached to large entities predicted an event like this including N8 Snyder, Ryan Hall, and Reed Timmer. Unfortunately, most people were unaware of the extent of this outbreak. Tornado warnings were issued late, tornado emergencies were issued on a couple minutes before this tornado was impacting town centers. We need to improve on these things and use this event as building blocks to grow. I hope everybody will recover to the fullest, and make sure to stay weather savvy.
This is not the worst tornado ever. There are many worse over the years especially the early 1900s. This is just one of the bad ones. December tornadoes are not rare in the Southeast either. The super outbreak of 74 was worse than this.
@@tedbell4416 there alreday saying this could go down as the worst ever mayfield kentucky is basically wimped off the map over 00 plus miss this could have over 500 killed after they fully look for everyone
@@NickyD Look up Greensboro Kansas in 2008... It was also wiped off the map. This isn't the first time something like this happened, but it's someone no human being ever wants to see...
Wow. I don't think anyone was able to capture the destruction of the tornado like your videos. I was listening last night as they were rescuing and recovering people. It was very sad.
@@marilynnjacobsen1077 it does . My brother lives there and thankful he is safe ! He is so exhausted today from helping wherever he could yesterday . Prayers for all there 🙏🙏
All this devastation to happen at night. This is particularly bone chilling. May God bless and comfort His children during this hardship. If you don't know Jesus Christ, call upon His Name. Fast!
@@chitchat860 If you aren’t religious you wouldn’t understand. You and all the other people in these comments don’t have to revoke people’s prayers. Just leave them be
I know I feel the same but it's only going to get worse all over the world especially with Russia starting up again they say if Russia attacks we are going to go after them which means nuclear war
@@bruzza3031 Russia is doing exactly what we would do if Canada or Mexico were looking to join in an alliance with China. Just keep Ukraine out of Nato and all is good. Btw, we should be defending OUR border, not Ukraine's.
The fact that it can blow a loaded freight train off the tracks is completely insane. RIP to the lives taken waiting on the documentary to come out next.
@@nellawell4976 Here he is folks. Our token individual bringing politics into everything, even a natural disaster that has nothing to do with the President.
I used to think movies about tornadoes were over exaggerating the possibility of the storm’s strength but the tornadoes that have struck in the last few years and especially this one have changed my entire outlook. That train, the position of the cars indicates that they were airborne and dropped from great heights! Nice work on the video and prayers for all who were affected.
Difficult to comprehend the destruction. It must have been terrifying, much love to survivors and those who've lost loved ones. Seeing trees with their bark sheered off, whole branches ripped away makes me feel really anxious... why does it seem scarier than seeing a whole tree ripped out of the ground?
@@ElishaPercival that's pretty close! Did you have storms too? I hope you and yours are safe and well? I'm in Australia, never seen a tornado. My mind is still spinning from the destruction...some of it looks like matchsticks. So many heart breaking stories. Peoples heads must be reeling 😔 Sending love to all 💜
I must say that the old courthouse stood its ground. Even the windows were left intact. The only part that was taken was the wooden dome part and some bricks that it was anchored to. They built things so solid back in the day.
Did you see the axles all snapped off the boxcars and just laying there? Gives an idea of the weight of those boxcars being able to just snap those off. The energy to blow all those cars over - powerful. I don't think anything will ever top the tsunami from that Sumatran quake at the end of 2004. There was this huge cargo ship that got pushed way up on land and these huge concrete slabs tossed around like they were toys.
I have no words that can express the sadness i feel! My thoughts and prayers go out to you! May God bless you and give you strength! From greater Cincinnati
Prayers from Washington state. These are the times of the signs. Please trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation. Romans 10:13. Whosever calls on him will be saved. Amen 🙏
Awesome drone aerial views of such a devastation area. Thank you Brett for all the footage you have put out as one can get a better perspective as to what has happened. My heart goes out to all affected by this.
Prayers from Nairobi Kenya.May GOD give you peace and my condolences to all who lost their loved ones. ...... YESHUA is coming soon....ABBA FATHER extend your saving Grace to all the unsaved so that they may get saved. Amen.
It looks unbelievable for a reason . Did you look at the drone footage of the destroyed candle factory at 5:14 ? Look long and hard . Theres not one item that flew outside of the factory walls after the building collapsed. Thats impossible during an E 4 tornado for not one item , not even a piece of paper to fly out of a factory that large.
@@sarahrose4126 absolutely…not natural. So obvious to me and many others, yet so frustrating that the vast majority are blind. We are under a t t a c k.
I think it's time to find away to destroy tornados and stop hurricanes I think the technology is already there it's just a matter of putting the pieces together.
I can remember years ago we had a tornado warning back in the 70s and we had a Michigan basement ( dirt floor ) and no steps to walk down . My husband and I had to carefully get his 60 + yr old mother into the basement . That was really hard , but even harder getting her back out after the coast was clear . The tornado by passed us . So much damage and destruction there in Kentucky . It is like a bomb was dropped out of no where . Prayers and condolences to the families that have lost loved ones . 🙏
As part of an aid group, I was in Joplin 34hrs after that F5. I'll take the drone view any day. Being on the ground shortly after something like this gives me only one lasting thought...you cannot 'un-see', but you can help make right.
I was at thr flying j when it hit I felt something strange touch my shoulder grabbed my dogs got out dodge moved east after ig hit Joplin it passed right over us at z little truck stop
I live close to the amazon facility tragedy and and know those lost. to see Kentucky like this breaks my heart. Prayers for everyone. God bless us all. 🇺🇸❤️🙏
I live in Bowling Green, and my house was missed on both sides. 1st tornado went 1/2 block west of me and the other just 2 blocks north. "FEELING LUCKY" and very thankful!
This looks like Panama City Florida after Hurricane Michael. Just leveled. Seeing this brought back some bad memories. Father God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob....through your son's name Jesus... I asked you Father God to please cover these people that are affected with this disaster. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
It's just jaw dropping how it looks like a huge city dump. If we didn't know this was coverage after a tornado thats exactly what we'd think the footage was of. All-in-all it's a blessing that there weren't more deaths. When I first saw pics popping up I had a fear that very few people would be alive. My thoughts and prayers are with the families that lost loved ones & with everyone throughout the recovery efforts. I can't even imagine the struggles ahead for so many.
@Josh Fog noo one was posting fake news on the comment, they was just stating opinions of what was seen, you just want to be the first "smarty-jerk" to annoy, and you still havent posted a link to an article backing up your claims.. like i said before , just stop
If you look at the collapsed candle factory at 5:14 , notice how there is no factory debris that has been spread beyond the factory walls. The building looks collapsed from the roof down , not destroyed by the swirling winds of a tornado.
I have never seen so much damage in all my life and viewing this video it looks so frightening to see this, I am from Australia so have sort of experience a mini type of tornado but nothing like has happened here. It just looks like a war zone! Can't imagine the cost of all the damage and the amount of clean up to be done. So sorry for those that went thru this storm and my heart goes out to all of you.
Incredible. My heart goes out to these people. I can only hope that as a nation we get together and try to ease their tremendous suffering. It could have been me or anyone of us.
This is just a unbelievable site 😭 HEARTBREAKING FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I wish I had words to express and take away their pain and how scared they must have been through tornado 🙏😭🙏😭🙏😭🙏
Damn. That's just Crazy. Prayers for all. Can someone with Train knowledge explain why all the wheels came off. Are the cars really just sat on top of the axles?
My dear Lord Jesus. Please give these folks a hug. Take care of the children especially. I know that these are the signs of the times but it hurts my heart. Thank you. David 🧙♂️
I have loved here all my life and it takes me 15 seconds to figure out what I'm looking at and where the drone is. It's completely unrecognizable. So sad God help please
Where is God??? Coming from space? Come now when your alive its hell. When you die you get to be with God and see things differently thru your soul trust me I've been dead three times already Heaven isnt what we think. Its better
That's correct, freight cars do not have kingpin retainers at the body bolster, and the axles generally don't have retaining clips and are held by weight. Those cars are empty, as you can see the bottom out-let slides are open. These covered hoppers are restricted when empty to 45mph iirc because they have such high cross-section and have the slopped end sheets, which catch wind. They weigh about 37 tons empty iirc, and can top 120 tons of cargo, plus the 30-some tons empty weight when loaded then pushing 150 tons!
Incredible emergency response. East coast holds you all in our prayers for hope strength and recovery. Our nation must unite and help wherever possible. Gods speed!
Jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, astonishing...... I've never seen anything like this before in my life. The power of Mother Nature is truly humbling. My heart breaks for all those people who have been affected by this. It's beyond words.
A category 4/5 hurricane can level houses and buildings and in a wider path and slide cars around. But the difference here is the mass of the objects getting airborne and that train. That tells me that the wind is closer to 200 mph than 150mph.
Homes swept clean off their foundations and debarked trees? And I heard that this twister also brought down a water tower... I'd be quite surprised if this wasn't rated EF-5.
I have always lived in Kansas, now 69. With tornados I see people going out to watch the sky and see it coming. This is so stupid! If you know one is coming get to your basement or shelter immediately. It can be calm, then boom, it's on top of you. You will live or die, depending on how smart and fast you are.
Am I missing something? I've seen all this drone footage and I see like 1 or 2 people walking around. Where are all the people looking for people? Where are the dogs looking for people still alive. If a truck can get blown this far so can a person. This is so heartbreaking.
They told everybody unless you are working stay away...This was the morning after and they didn't want people walking around because it was to dangerous.
Yes, you don't need people, even with the best of intentions, walking around unstable wreckage. Searching has to be done in an orderly way or you will have the searchers scattered and perhaps needing to be rescued themselves because debris shifts and they themselves become victims.
Loaded they can achieve that weight. If you look closely, the bottom out-let slides are open... these cars are all empty, and thus around 37-tons iirc from the ones I looked at a few years ago. But loaded, you're right 120-125 tons of load, plus the empty weight, pushes them upwards of 140-150 tons max.
It would seem that only gas- and diesel-powered trucks and tractors are able to respond to these impacted areas as there is no way to charge up an electric vehicle.
I have lived in tornado alley but I myself have never saw a tornado go two hundred miles it’s new to me, but I have seen more than one tornado on the ground at once.
The rail cars laying down several feet from the tracks is just scary to think about. When tornado strong enough to toss rail cars around nothing is safe or will survive
@@whatfreedom7 The fence has plenty of paths for the wind to flow through, offering little impedance against the force of the wind. The cars, having more surface area, are able to “capture” more of this force along its planes, allowing for lift to be created, with enough strength duration, which would cause them to topple. Also, if the cars were connected, it’d only take one or two for the chain to roll along with it. This isn’t to diminish at all the strength of the wind; it’s still otherworldly, the damage it caused…
If people ever see bad weather and ambulances, police or fight fighters get in their trucks and drive away before a tornado hits its because their police station or fire station might get flattened but they get out so their trucks are still in tact so they can help the injured later. They come in straight after the event but they are advised to flee in their truck in a safe direction beforehand. How can they help if their ambulance or fire truck get flattened? So if U fire truck racing out when U think a tornado is nearby consider going to your basement or following the fire truck.
so tragic; only been near a couple in my life and you never forget the green sky. My heart was so heavy when I saw what happened. My prayers and thoughts are there with you in those most tragic time.
In the 80s, one rainy Los Angeles day, the high school teacher looked out at the greenish cast to the sky and said, "In the midwest, we'd say this is TORNADO weather!" Class began and so did heavy rain. It got more and more intense for 10-15 minutes then there came an insane amount of wind. We were safe in the masonry building with thick windows. When that period ended and we walked out into view of the greater school and neighborhood, we could see huge trees downed, damaged roofs, trash cans and DUMPSTERS all the way against the downwind fence, and the screened tall chain link fence around the school's tennis courts bent over almost 45 degrees. In retrospect it probably was a microburst. One passed 2 blocks from my house about 10 years after this incident. It left about a 3 mile swath of destruction. Strangely, in the corridor of worst destruction, there were 2 different traffic signals that had gotten *lifted* off their poles and were now battered and dangling by the wires.
I have been through ice storms, blizzards, floods and even an earthquake, but a tornado is a very different experience. In 1974 i was 15 and lived in Ohio. My mom and dad and brother and myself went to my aunt and uncles house because we only lived about 5 miles apart. We saw the black rolling clouds with a greenish tint over top of us and the constant streaks of lightning with the whoosh of the wind blowing very hard. Then the warning sirens started going off, this was in the middle of the afternoon and it was so dark the street lights were coming on, but it did pass over and then we learned that just about an hour later the town of Xenia, Ohio had been annihilated. Many years later in the late 80's while in the Army a group of us was unloading railcars in Pinyon Canyon, Colorado, and we were watching the clouds coming over the Rocky Mountains, they looked just like those clouds I remembered in Ohio, black rolling clouds with a greenish tint. As we continued to watch those clouds they started to rotate, I was like OH NO, we are out here in the middle of nowhere and if that thing drops down it we could be in serious trouble. Then out of nowhere here comes a U.S. Air Force weather plane flying right into that storm, I was like those guys are NUTS, then we saw a couple of vans coming down the road to pick us up, THANK GOD, because by then that rotation was at least halfway or more to the ground and it was RIGHT OVER TOP of us. I think we set a speed record for how fast you could load a van, the vans took us to a safe building as we watched it pass on by, still halfway or more to the ground. Then a few days later we had a day off and took a scenic tour around the Colorado Springs area, the bus driver suddenly slammed on his brakes about throwing us out of our seats, we were like dude what is your problem, then he pointed to the right side of the bus and we looked out the window and there was a tornado on the ground, THANKFULLY going away from us. A tornado is one of nature's most intimidating, frightening and unforgettable experiences you will ever have. The silence, then all those sounds, the wind, and just the feeling you get when you actually see one is something you NEVER forget. To all those poor people who lived through those few minutes of fear and sheer terror, you have my sympathy and understanding. May God bless you and give you comfort and ease your pain. Just know there are millions of people all over the world thinking of you and wishing you well.
Kentuckian here …… thank you …
I lived in Mechanicsburg, Ohio at that time. Was about the same age as you. If I recall Xenia was hit a couple times in the ‘70s. I remember seeing a board from the lumber yard embedded in a huge tree when we went to check on some friends. One of the first times I saw my Dad cry.
Thank You For Sharing This I went through one in the mid west the ground underneath my feet shook as did everything in the house !! The Silence then the Freight train. Father in Jesus Name Help These People 🙏
Joni Fejes Xenia also got hit in 1985 along with pymatuning PA. I read the book tornado watch 211 by john fuller great read!
Oh yeah.Thoses creepy,green algae looking clouds.Thats the time to hunker down.TY for your story.I can't imagine seeing that.Glad you are here to tell it.👍
I am from Russia and I feel very sorry for all the residents of this city who instantly lost their homes and their loved ones.
and their jobs.
Thank you from a Kentuckian. ❤️
Do you all have tornados in Russia?
Thank you.
@@Enjoyer.762 Will you document that, please? Names need to be taken...
All this drone footage of the devastation gives this disaster a totally new perspective, from all the reports this Tornado was one of the worse ever in US history.
There have been several much worse, one from over 100 years ago had 600+ dead, but it was a bad one nonetheless, it’s up there.
@@SpaceTravel1776 The time this was on the ground is where this storm is the worst
@@SpaceTravel1776 - It is always the Worst when this happens at night,
when people are Sleeping. In 1925 he Entire Town of Murphysboro, IL was turned into a pile of
Rubble... Hundreds died. ... "March 18, 1925, the Great Tri-State Tornado tore across Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Southwest Indiana. With its rapid movement, monstrous size, and long track, the tornado took hundreds of lives and injured thousands."
Happened again in 1957... not quite as bad. Over 30 deaths.
Had Another, like a week ago... Not too bad. No Deaths...
I saw this one that hit Kentucky coming, and was happy it passed us over.
It's been reported as being the worst to hit KENTUCKY in many many years, but it is NOT the "worst ever in US History". When it's been fully investigated, it may set the new record for the longest track tornado... ever.... but that hasn't been confirmed yet.
@@leokimvideo I don’t know why having the longest tornado path ever makes it “one of the worse in US History” when there are more important factors such as tornado strength and overall destruction and loss of life, but if you say so.
Absolutely tragic! Watching from the Netherlands, I feel such horror and sorrow. I hope that these poor people will get all the support that they need--immediately.
Thank you
Thank you from a Kentucky resident. Help is on site in many forms, from many states and Kentucky, as well as the other affected states are so very grateful. Thank you.❤️
Thank you, drone guy. Without your work, we could never view scenes like this, overhead and detailed.
Battered and crushed vehicles tossed around, big trees stripped, buildings totally unrecognizable, freight cars toppled. This is what an EF-5 does. And to get one at night is almost unimaginably bad.
Just the recovery alone could take weeks.
I live in a county in Northern California that had extremely bad wildfire this summer. Four full months later, I passed a commercial car hauler just two days ago coming out of the corner of the county where the fire started, hauling a full load of burned-out cars. I doubt losing an emtire town takes weeks to clean up. Months, even years.
@@SwedishMeatball972 No, I said the "recovery" could take weeks, not clean up. Recovery is finding all the bodies and accounting for everyone.
Just saw this on the news...my heart goes out to all in this town...sincere condolences from Australia.
Thank you from mayfield just to know so many people from around the world care about us means so much
Imagine losing your bearings in your own neighborhood, landmarks, familiar places, trees, all gone.
@@guymerritt4860 I can only relate to driving along the beach in my home town along the beach in the days after Katrina. I was lost in my own neighborhood, I had a paper route and knew every crack in the sidewalk. I had to use those memories to figure out exactly where I was.
I am very sorry for what happened to the people of Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas and Tennessee among other towns, the world is praying for you. Greetings from Venezuela.
God bless you and hoping you recover from this horrible disaster from B.C. Canada 🇺🇸🇨🇦
This is absolutely heartbreaking!! Hear about it all over news but this just put it into a real perspective!! Thanks for your coverage and prayers to all
We have cyclone down under in Australia, but they are nothing compared to what you poor guys have re to put up with, We are so very sorry for your loss.
An EF4 tornado will have wind speeds between 116 and 200 mph (267 and 322 km/h). A Category 5 hurricane (tropical cyclone) has sustained wind speed of 155 mph (249 km/h) or higher. This had to be at least that for sure. So it's EF4 or maybe even EF5 which is the highest.
@@bbigjohnson069 you meant 165 mph for EF4... 116 mph is like EF1 or EF2 range...
THANKS! I wasn't anywhere near this tornado, but thanks so much! I'll pass the message on, that Australians aren't just kangaroo humpers.
It is almost incomprehensible. Seeing this but being able to take it in as reality is hard. May people find the strength to go forward with much love and support.
I'vebeen through a tornado, not anything like this one, and I can tell you these people need your help. Any kind is appreciated. These are your neighbors and they ,need your help.
That's a horrible scene and I pray for all involved. Excellent drone work.
Well, he could have given the army tank a few more seconds...
This is so incredibly sad. The loss of life, and property can never be replaced. As far as the eye can see, the town is gone. All we can do is pray for the families of those lost and for those that will be trying to rebuild their lives. Insurance companies need to cut out the BS and get these people paid forthwith.
Property can always be replaced. The value of Life does not equate with property ,.. but I agree the Insurance companies are crooks, we should not have them. Each town is capable of being self insured. I remember when Clinton and Bush asked for cash after Katrina, what a crzy time.
@@artstrology People like you who say "property can be replaced" need to shut up, tbh. YES, it's good if someone doesn't die, but, at the same time, if you lose your house and you are left with NOTHING, what is the point of surviving? The state, insurance nor government is going to give them a new home to replace the one they lost. I'm so sick of this mentality of "losing your home isn't that bad, at least you lived!" Shut up.
@@artstrology since you're trying to correct me, property is never fully replaced. Personal belongings can never be replaced. If people aren't insured, they have nothing to look forward too.
@@iamReddington If your house is so dam important, ... and that is your own reason to live,.. then what do the millions of houseless people do to keep their spirit alive ? You shut up. You are promoting suicide due to loss of material security. What a sap. Get busy !
@@iamReddington And btw, most people pay insurance to compensate for that fear , but even that is a rip off. Keep in mind, Mayfiled Kentucky probably made insurance companies billions up to this point, they do not even need money from other towns to pay out the losses to property. Average town of 2000 households makes Inasurance companies 3.5 to 4.5 million per year in pure profits just for homeowners and auto. Do the math.
EF4 to EF5 damage. I watched this tornado from 8:00pm EST, and it lasted until after 1:00am. This tornado was insane and scary. It had a path length of at least 150 miles, and a width of over .75 miles. Winds at 1,200 feet above ground were measured at 310 MPH or greater at its peak. Brick buildings are collapsed with only a few interior walls intact, cars were thrown 100+ yards away from their original place, large trees debarked with all branches being torn off, and houses were completely destroyed with some being entirely swept off their foundation with nothing left. Debris was lofted 5 miles high into the atmosphere and scattered several miles from the tornadoes path. This storm is unlike anything we've had in a very long time or possibly ever. It's the worst damage I've seen since 2013. I'm upset that the media, and a lot of meteorologists failed to bring this system to attention. Several meteorologists that weren't attached to large entities predicted an event like this including N8 Snyder, Ryan Hall, and Reed Timmer. Unfortunately, most people were unaware of the extent of this outbreak. Tornado warnings were issued late, tornado emergencies were issued on a couple minutes before this tornado was impacting town centers. We need to improve on these things and use this event as building blocks to grow. I hope everybody will recover to the fullest, and make sure to stay weather savvy.
This is not the worst tornado ever. There are many worse over the years especially the early 1900s. This is just one of the bad ones. December tornadoes are not rare in the Southeast either. The super outbreak of 74 was worse than this.
Nobody listens to meteorologists anymore because they hype it up for ratings like everything else in the media they have lost their viewers trust
Ryan Hall does damn good work. He was warning everyone about this way before hand.
@@tedbell4416 there alreday saying this could go down as the worst ever mayfield kentucky is basically wimped off the map over 00 plus miss this could have over 500 killed after they fully look for everyone
@@NickyD Look up Greensboro Kansas in 2008... It was also wiped off the map. This isn't the first time something like this happened, but it's someone no human being ever wants to see...
This is awful. I hope that many people are able to recover well. And sorry to those who lost their life
Wow. I don't think anyone was able to capture the destruction of the tornado like your videos. I was listening last night as they were rescuing and recovering people. It was very sad.
Heartbreaking. Out of the blue. These poor people . I really hope they get sufficient help to rebuild.
The raw power it must of had to cause such brutal destruction to everything in its path is absolutely insane to think about.
Horrific! God Bless everyone there that survived and so sorry for any losses!
I just heard losses as in life huge. R.i.p..good luck . Horriable .
Looks like a bomb hit in a a war.
Terrible loss! 🙏
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@marilynnjacobsen1077 it does . My brother lives there and thankful he is safe ! He is so exhausted today from helping wherever he could yesterday . Prayers for all there 🙏🙏
All this devastation to happen at night. This is particularly bone chilling.
May God bless and comfort His children during this hardship.
If you don't know Jesus Christ, call upon His Name. Fast!
Prayers from Florida to all of those that are suffering...
They don't need prayers they need money
@@chitchat860 If you aren’t religious you wouldn’t understand. You and all the other people in these comments don’t have to revoke people’s prayers. Just leave them be
When rebuilding, consider the only structure standing undamaged - that tank.
i read dome homes / geodesic domes can withstand wind much better
@@kamalakrsna I'm thinking partially underground dome homes of reinforced, recycled plastic. But, I'm no architectural engineer.
That dome is solid steel probably half inch thick. Not a bad idea but would be really expensive and these are poor people.
Prayers from UK... Sending much much light, strength and peace 🕊️
I know I feel the same but it's only going to get worse all over the world especially with Russia starting up again they say if Russia attacks we are going to go after them which means nuclear war
By the way you guys I think have it worse off than we do
@@bruzza3031 Russia is doing exactly what we would do if Canada or Mexico were looking to join in an alliance with China. Just keep Ukraine out of Nato and all is good. Btw, we should be defending OUR border, not Ukraine's.
The fact that it can blow a loaded freight train off the tracks is completely insane. RIP to the lives taken waiting on the documentary to come out next.
Looks like the whole town is gone. Prayers to all. Let's pull our nation together and send help to these areas of such devastating loss.
Whole town? This is what biden has done to the whole World.
There are many there….from what was broadcasted…
@@nellawell4976 Here he is folks. Our token individual bringing politics into everything, even a natural disaster that has nothing to do with the President.
@@nellawell4976 No, its what a tornado did. Keep it real please.
@@nellawell4976 No that's just what your right wing media tells you.
LSM, you sure are good at reporting these events. Wish the news outlets would take a few lessons from you
They rather lie and hide things from you
Unbelievable,just beyond belief the energy required to deliver such total devastation.
This video in its silence is deafening
I used to think movies about tornadoes were over exaggerating the possibility of the storm’s strength but the tornadoes that have struck in the last few years and especially this one have changed my entire outlook. That train, the position of the cars indicates that they were airborne and dropped from great heights! Nice work on the video and prayers for all who were affected.
Difficult to comprehend the destruction. It must have been terrifying, much love to survivors and those who've lost loved ones. Seeing trees with their bark sheered off, whole branches ripped away makes me feel really anxious... why does it seem scarier than seeing a whole tree ripped out of the ground?
It was terrifying and I was an hour away
@@ElishaPercival that's pretty close! Did you have storms too? I hope you and yours are safe and well? I'm in Australia, never seen a tornado. My mind is still spinning from the destruction...some of it looks like matchsticks. So many heart breaking stories. Peoples heads must be reeling 😔 Sending love to all 💜
Prayers from California. 🇺🇸🙏❤
I must say that the old courthouse stood its ground. Even the windows were left intact. The only part that was taken was the wooden dome part and some bricks that it was anchored to. They built things so solid back in the day.
THIS DRONE WORK IS OFF THE CHARTS! However, lives were lost and families destroyed. Pray for all ❤️
これは本当に酷い…
日本も災害国だから対岸の火事ではない。
一日も早く復旧して欲しいですね。
How does a train get blown off the tracks….it’s beyond anything I’ve ever heard of in my life….
Did you see the axles all snapped off the boxcars and just laying there? Gives an idea of the weight of those boxcars being able to just snap those off. The energy to blow all those cars over - powerful. I don't think anything will ever top the tsunami from that Sumatran quake at the end of 2004. There was this huge cargo ship that got pushed way up on land and these huge concrete slabs tossed around like they were toys.
its happened before quite a few times actually. not that uncommon
Each gp loco is over 100tons each
Praying for all.
Such a horrific storm!
We are waiting to hear what those of us from other states can send to help.
Pray to who? The all knowing God either didn't or couldn't stop this , so he's and asshole or just importent
Prayer, lol.
I have no words that can express the sadness i feel! My thoughts and prayers go out to you! May God bless you and give you strength! From greater Cincinnati
Once again mother nature shows us that at any moment she can shake us off like a bad case of fleas. This is so scary and sad.
I'm a truck driver and have been past this town a 100 times. Won't be the same driving by anymore. Prayers for the world.
Prayers from Washington state. These are the times of the signs. Please trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation. Romans 10:13. Whosever calls on him will be saved. Amen 🙏
Awesome drone aerial views of such a devastation area. Thank you Brett for all the footage you have put out as one can get a better perspective as to what has happened. My heart goes out to all affected by this.
A reminder that we are not in control. The things of this life can be gone in the blink of an eye...
So Glad to see THESE PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY COME TOGETHER.
Prayers from Nairobi Kenya.May GOD give you peace and my condolences to all who lost their loved ones. ...... YESHUA is coming soon....ABBA FATHER extend your saving Grace to all the unsaved so that they may get saved. Amen.
Even after seeing the destruction, it is still unbelievable.
It looks unbelievable for a reason . Did you look at the drone footage of the destroyed candle factory at 5:14 ? Look long and hard . Theres not one item that flew outside of the factory walls after the building collapsed. Thats impossible during an E 4 tornado for not one item , not even a piece of paper to fly out of a factory that large.
@@sarahrose4126 absolutely…not natural. So obvious to me and many others, yet so frustrating that the vast majority are blind. We are under a t t a c k.
This shows the mere force of how powerful Mother Nature can be
I think it's time to find away to destroy tornados and stop hurricanes I think the technology is already there it's just a matter of putting the pieces together.
@@lcfflc3887 That is absolutely absurd. There is no way for man to stop these storms because they are coming from the Creator Himself.
I think i would rebuild my house from a grain bin style. Seems that was the only thing standing in the path of that destruction.
There was a study about the best house shape to survive hurricanes, and it was octagonal. I'd bet round would be even better.
I can remember years ago we had a tornado warning back in the 70s and we had a Michigan basement ( dirt floor ) and no steps to walk down . My husband and I had to carefully get his 60 + yr old mother into the basement . That was really hard , but even harder getting her back out after the coast was clear . The tornado by passed us . So much damage and destruction there in Kentucky . It is like a bomb was dropped out of no where . Prayers and condolences to the families that have lost loved ones . 🙏
As part of an aid group, I was in Joplin 34hrs after that F5. I'll take the drone view any day. Being on the ground shortly after something like this gives me only one lasting thought...you cannot 'un-see', but you can help make right.
I was at thr flying j when it hit I felt something strange touch my shoulder grabbed my dogs got out dodge moved east after ig hit Joplin it passed right over us at z little truck stop
@@bigred1247 It's indescribable. The breathtakingly awfulness that Mother Nature sometimes wields!
I live close to the amazon facility tragedy and and know those lost. to see Kentucky like this breaks my heart. Prayers for everyone. God bless us all. 🇺🇸❤️🙏
I live in Bowling Green, and my house was missed on both sides. 1st tornado went 1/2 block west of me and the other just 2 blocks north. "FEELING LUCKY" and very thankful!
This looks like Panama City Florida after Hurricane Michael. Just leveled. Seeing this brought back some bad memories.
Father God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob....through your son's name Jesus... I asked you Father God to please cover these people that are affected with this disaster.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Father God? You mean the The Holy Spirited father
Love from Australia.
How was this just an EF-3 tornado? Damage looks like a "5." Just heartbroken for this community.
They were still doing research on all the data last I heard but I’m betting f4 maybe f5 once they actually declare it’s strength.
It’s probably bigger than 3. I think I heard they recorded speeds of or near 300mph!! That’s 4-5 territory! Ikr!
@@orlandojohnson5742 damn 300?! Just think about that. I can’t even imagine what 300mph winds would be like.
Prayers from France for the bereaved and who have been through a nightmare 🙏 🇫🇷
Holy Cow! Rail cars tossed around like match sticks. Definitely an F5 destruction!
It's just jaw dropping how it looks like a huge city dump. If we didn't know this was coverage after a tornado thats exactly what we'd think the footage was of. All-in-all it's a blessing that there weren't more deaths. When I first saw pics popping up I had a fear that very few people would be alive. My thoughts and prayers are with the families that lost loved ones & with everyone throughout the recovery efforts. I can't even imagine the struggles ahead for so many.
Strange no media has given the F4 or F5 rating on the tornado. It knocked over a train .
@Josh Fog why say this in every freakin comment? give a source of the info or just please STOP TYPING
@Josh Fog noo one was posting fake news on the comment, they was just stating opinions of what was seen, you just want to be the first "smarty-jerk" to annoy, and you still havent posted a link to an article backing up your claims.. like i said before , just stop
If you look at the collapsed candle factory at 5:14 , notice how there is no factory debris that has been spread beyond the factory walls. The building looks collapsed from the roof down , not destroyed by the swirling winds of a tornado.
Pressure
I have never seen so much damage in all my life and viewing this video it looks so frightening to see this, I am from Australia so have sort of experience a mini type of tornado but nothing like has happened here. It just looks like a war zone! Can't imagine the cost of all the damage and the amount of clean up to be done. So sorry for those that went thru this storm and my heart goes out to all of you.
Incredible. My heart goes out to these people. I can only hope that as a nation we get together and try to ease their tremendous suffering. It could have been me or anyone of us.
This is just a unbelievable site 😭 HEARTBREAKING FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I wish I had words to express and take away their pain and how scared they must have been through tornado 🙏😭🙏😭🙏😭🙏
So sad to see all the wreckage. So heartwarming to see all the people help each other after. God bless this world.
Thank you for sharing this graphic video. It really shows the devastation caused by the tornado it’s painful but informative. ❤️
Watching from New Zealand, so sad to see and lives lost. Amazing drone footage, gives you the real view of how it is. We luv you America, take care ❤
im no wind expert. but train cars blown off the track..is some pretty powerful shit.
Damn. That's just Crazy. Prayers for all. Can someone with Train knowledge explain why all the wheels came off. Are the cars really just sat on top of the axles?
My dear Lord Jesus. Please give these folks a hug. Take care of the children especially. I know that these are the signs of the times but it hurts my heart. Thank you. David 🧙♂️
Days before the sky fill with chemical trails. I also could not get 4 channels on the tv because of the sky.
What if you could enhance? the weather.
What if you're seeing is not just the weather? but weather manipulation.
I was outside my home, at night before this happen, I was looking at the stars. Right in the center of the sky was a large manmade Contrail.
Weather Enhancement Manipulation.
@@nightrunner1456 I would say, "I believe you."
I have loved here all my life and it takes me 15 seconds to figure out what I'm looking at and where the drone is. It's completely unrecognizable. So sad God help please
Where is God??? Coming from space? Come now when your alive its hell. When you die you get to be with God and see things differently thru your soul trust me I've been dead three times already Heaven isnt what we think. Its better
Thank you posting these so people can see what happened that night!!!
I never knew that when they tip over, ..the axels fall off, ..wild !!
That's correct, freight cars do not have kingpin retainers at the body bolster, and the axles generally don't have retaining clips and are held by weight. Those cars are empty, as you can see the bottom out-let slides are open. These covered hoppers are restricted when empty to 45mph iirc because they have such high cross-section and have the slopped end sheets, which catch wind. They weigh about 37 tons empty iirc, and can top 120 tons of cargo, plus the 30-some tons empty weight when loaded then pushing 150 tons!
@@NightOwlModeler you cant tell if its empty or not
I grew up here. Mama and them still live there. I know every inch of this town but now it’s totally unrecognizable.
Кошмар (((. Американцы, я вам сочувствую! Держитесь!
Nightmare (((. Americans, I sympathize with you! Hold on! The Russians will pray for you.
Thank you
Remember Joplin Missouri and Moore Oklahoma? Moore was hit twice. They are the scariest thing on earth.
Incredible emergency response. East coast holds you all in our prayers for hope strength and recovery. Our nation must unite and help wherever possible. Gods speed!
Jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, astonishing...... I've never seen anything like this before in my life. The power of Mother Nature is truly humbling. My heart breaks for all those people who have been affected by this. It's beyond words.
A category 4/5 hurricane can level houses and buildings and in a wider path and slide cars around. But the difference here is the mass of the objects getting airborne and that train. That tells me that the wind is closer to 200 mph than 150mph.
Thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to everyone🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
gAy
So many kids without parents this Christmas...absolutely devastated.
Homes swept clean off their foundations and debarked trees? And I heard that this twister also brought down a water tower... I'd be quite surprised if this wasn't rated EF-5.
@Josh Fog they are still doing research, it will most likely be a ef4 or 5
@ the initial reports were that it was at least ef3, but they are still surveying the spot and will most likely change it
I found my PT Cruiser at 4:00, thank you, I haven't been able to return and look for it.
Geez , my heart goes out to the family’s .
Prayers from Texas - Louisiana
We totally understand this devastation
We are sending our love and offering
That had to be a F5, or extremely close, lord please be with everyone that's been effected, such destruction.
I have always lived in Kansas, now 69. With tornados I see people going out to watch the sky and see it coming. This is so stupid! If you know one is coming get to your basement or shelter immediately. It can be calm, then boom, it's on top of you. You will live or die, depending on how smart and fast you are.
WOW , that had to be a horrific experience.
I could only imagine.
Praying for those who had to and are experiencing this tragedy.
That huge white water tank took a direct hit without a scratch.
Am I missing something? I've seen all this drone footage and I see like 1 or 2 people walking around. Where are all the people looking for people? Where are the dogs looking for people still alive. If a truck can get blown this far so can a person. This is so heartbreaking.
They told everybody unless you are working stay away...This was the morning after and they didn't want people walking around because it was to dangerous.
Yes, you don't need people, even with the best of intentions, walking around unstable wreckage. Searching has to be done in an orderly way or you will have the searchers scattered and perhaps needing to be rescued themselves because debris shifts and they themselves become victims.
That’s just unimaginable damage, I feel so bad for those affected! Did the news list a windspeed yet? Just curious
Those railroad cars are 286,000 lbs !!!
Loaded they can achieve that weight. If you look closely, the bottom out-let slides are open... these cars are all empty, and thus around 37-tons iirc from the ones I looked at a few years ago. But loaded, you're right 120-125 tons of load, plus the empty weight, pushes them upwards of 140-150 tons max.
Dont worry, your Skydaddy will save you.
It would seem that only gas- and diesel-powered trucks and tractors are able to respond to these impacted areas as there is no way to charge up an electric vehicle.
I have lived in tornado alley but I myself have never saw a tornado go two hundred miles it’s new to me, but I have seen more than one tornado on the ground at once.
Are the bright lights set up at the candle factory?
Yes
The rail cars laying down several feet from the tracks is just scary to think about. When tornado strong enough to toss rail cars around nothing is safe or will survive
It’s crazy it did all this damage including the train yet that little fence was still standing.
@@whatfreedom7
The fence has plenty of paths for the wind to flow through, offering little impedance against the force of the wind. The cars, having more surface area, are able to “capture” more of this force along its planes, allowing for lift to be created, with enough strength duration, which would cause them to topple.
Also, if the cars were connected, it’d only take one or two for the chain to roll along with it.
This isn’t to diminish at all the strength of the wind; it’s still otherworldly, the damage it caused…
If people ever see bad weather and ambulances, police or fight fighters get in their trucks and drive away before a tornado hits its because their police station or fire station might get flattened but they get out so their trucks are still in tact so they can help the injured later. They come in straight after the event but they are advised to flee in their truck in a safe direction beforehand. How can they help if their ambulance or fire truck get flattened? So if U fire truck racing out when U think a tornado is nearby consider going to your basement or following the fire truck.
It is so good I don't live in the USA anymore. I left it in 1999 and it was so right. I'm so happy!
I feel guilty for liking this video. What destruction this tornado caused, prayers to all .
so tragic; only been near a couple in my life and you never forget the green sky. My heart was so heavy when I saw what happened. My prayers and thoughts are there with you in those most tragic time.
In the 80s, one rainy Los Angeles day, the high school teacher looked out at the greenish cast to the sky and said, "In the midwest, we'd say this is TORNADO weather!" Class began and so did heavy rain. It got more and more intense for 10-15 minutes then there came an insane amount of wind. We were safe in the masonry building with thick windows. When that period ended and we walked out into view of the greater school and neighborhood, we could see huge trees downed, damaged roofs, trash cans and DUMPSTERS all the way against the downwind fence, and the screened tall chain link fence around the school's tennis courts bent over almost 45 degrees. In retrospect it probably was a microburst. One passed 2 blocks from my house about 10 years after this incident. It left about a 3 mile swath of destruction. Strangely, in the corridor of worst destruction, there were 2 different traffic signals that had gotten *lifted* off their poles and were now battered and dangling by the wires.