"...We will get through this. This town is small, but it's mighty." -Church member Carla McDonald
[CBN News] The search for victims continues after a weekend swarm of dozens of tornadoes left a path of destruction through five states. (Screengrab image)
In Mayfield, Kentucky, workers on the night shift at Mayfield Consumer Products were in the middle of the holiday rush, cranking out candles, when the word went out: "Duck and cover."
Before and after photos show what happened next.
It was first feared that as many as 70 factory workers might be dead, but as of Monday morning, that number stood at 8 dead, 8 missing.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) said, "I am praying that maybe original estimates of those we have lost were wrong. If so, it's going to be pretty wonderful."
Dozens of people in five states were killed by tornadoes that leveled entire communities Friday night, leaving many areas looking like war zones.
At least four twisters hit Kentucky, including one with an extraordinarily long path of more than 200 miles, possibly the longest in U.S. history.
Entire towns are devastated, with more than 1,000 homes damaged or destroyed across 10 counties.
Gov. Beshear said that going door to door in search of victims wasn't possible in the hardest-hit areas because "There are no doors."
Before and after photos show the damage to Amazon's warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois where at least six people died after a tornado leveled half of the building. (Screengrab image) (Click here to view more photos)
Among the victims, Justice Virden's dad, Larry Virden.
"I said, 'No, my dad's coming home. I need my daddy. He can't leave," Justice said.
Her dad, an Amazon driver, was returning to the facility right when the tornado struck.
In Mayfield, Sunday morning, worshippers gathered amidst the rubble that used to house the First Christian Church.
The brick building that stood for generations was knocked down in a matter of minutes.
Breaking down in tears, church member Arthur Byrn said, "I was born in this church. My three daughters were married in this, child baptized in this church. It's, you know, it's more than you can stand." (Screengrab image)
Church member Carla McDonald said, "We have to rely on our faith and rely on one another and rely with another, and we will get through this. This town is small, but it's mighty."
Beshear expects the statewide death toll to reach at least 50 with at least 14 dead in Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri.
FEMA, the National Guard, and volunteers are pouring in to help with cleanup and rescue.
CBN's Operation Blessing Responds
CBN's Operation Blessing is on its way to help the victims of the disaster in Kentucky.
The Hunger Strike Force is delivering a truckload of water, food, snacks, trash bags, and other disaster relief supplies to the town of Mayfield today.
CBN's US Disaster Relief Team is also sending Home Depot disaster relief kits to [their] warehouse in Bristol, Tennessee, for further distribution. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
Click Here to donate to Operation Blessing's tornado relief efforts in the Midwest.