Skip to main content

© 2026 WRVO Public Media

NPR News for Central New York

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Photos: Before and after satellite images reveal the extent of tornadoes' destruction

NPR | By Elena Moore

Published December 12, 2021 at 11:08 AM EST

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Overview of Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings before the tornado on Jan. 28, 2017. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right) Overview of the damage to the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings after the tornado on Dec. 11, 2021. — BEFORE (left): Overview of Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings before the tornado on Jan. 28, 2017. AFTER (right) Overview of the damage to the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory and nearby buildings after the tornado on Dec. 11, 2021.

Updated December 13, 2021 at 4:41 PM ET

Multiple states in the South and Midwest are dealing with massive damage and destruction following a series of deadly tornadoes that ravaged the region Friday night into Saturday morning.

The extreme weather occurred in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri — with communities in western Kentucky hit exceptionally hard.

In Kentucky, 64 people have been confirmed killed and at least 105 were unaccounted for as of Monday, according to Gov. Andy Beshear. At least 14 people have also died in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee.

Search and rescue operations are continuing throughout the area and a state of emergency has been declared.

What follows below are satellite images showing the scale of the devastation in three of the states that were hit.

Mayfield, Ky.

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Overview of Downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28 2017. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right): Overview of damage in downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. — BEFORE (left): Overview of Downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28 2017. AFTER (right): Overview of damage in downtown Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021.

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Homes and buildings before the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28, 2017. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021. — BEFORE (left): Homes and buildings before the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Jan. 28, 2017. AFTER (right): this image shows the damage to homes and buildings after the tornado in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 11, 2021.

Monette, Arkansas

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Farm buildings before tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Feb. 22, 2021. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right): Damage to farm buildings after tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Dec. 11, 2021. — BEFORE (left): Farm buildings before tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Feb. 22, 2021. AFTER (right): Damage to farm buildings after tornado in Monette, Arkansas on Dec. 11, 2021.

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Close-up view of Monette Manor Nursing Home on Feb. 22, 2021. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right): Close-up view shows damage to Monette Manor Nursing Home on Dec. 11, 2021. — BEFORE (left): Close-up view of Monette Manor Nursing Home on Feb. 22, 2021. AFTER (right): Close-up view shows damage to Monette Manor Nursing Home on Dec. 11, 2021.

Edwardsville, Ill.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

<strong>BEFORE</strong> (left): Amazon Warehouse and buildings Edwardsville, Illinois on Sept. 24, 2021. <strong>AFTER</strong> (right): Amazon Warehouse and buildings Edwardsville, Illinois on Dec. 11, 2021 — BEFORE (left): Amazon Warehouse and buildings Edwardsville, Illinois on Sept. 24, 2021. AFTER (right): Amazon Warehouse and buildings Edwardsville, Illinois on Dec. 11, 2021

Tags

NPR NPR Top Stories

Elena Moore

Elena Moore is a production assistant for the NPR Politics Podcast. She also fills in as a reporter for the NewsDesk. Moore previously worked as a production assistant for Morning Edition. During the 2020 presidential campaign, she worked for the Washington Desk as an editorial assistant, doing both research and reporting. Before coming to NPR, Moore worked at NBC News. She is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and is originally and proudly from Brooklyn, N.Y.

See stories by Elena Moore

WRVO is at a critical moment.

Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.

Support WRVO now