<strong>Sun., Dec. 12:</strong> Bogdan Gaicki surveys tornado damage after extreme weather hit in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sun., Dec. 12: Bogdan Gaicki surveys tornado damage after extreme weather hit in Mayfield, Kentucky. / AFP via Getty Images

Updated December 12, 2021 at 9:45 PM ET

Multiple tornadoes struck late Friday night and Saturday morning, tearing through several states including Kentucky, Illinois and Arkansas.

The storms have left hundreds of miles of devastation in their wake. In Edwardsville, Ill., a tornado ripped through an Amazon Distribution Hub, leaving at least six people dead. At least 70 people have died in Kentucky alone, the governor said, and the death toll there may rise to more than 100.

A mammoth search and recovery effort is now underway across the region, while those who survived begin the difficult task of surveying what's been lost and what it will take to rebuild.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>In this aerial photo, destruction is seen along Reelfoot Lake in the aftermath of tornadoes that through the region, in Samburg, Tenn.

Sun., Dec. 12: In this aerial photo, destruction is seen along Reelfoot Lake in the aftermath of tornadoes that through the region, in Samburg, Tenn. / AP

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>In this aerial photo, people stand on the porch of a destroyed home in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Dresden, Tenn.

Sun., Dec. 12: In this aerial photo, people stand on the porch of a destroyed home in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Dresden, Tenn. / AP

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>The front steps of a house are all that remains after a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky.

Sun., Dec. 12: The front steps of a house are all that remains after a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>A family photo lays among the debris inside of a house after a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky.

Sun., Dec. 12: A family photo lays among the debris inside of a house after a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>Salvage and cleanup continues after a tornado ripped through the area two days prior in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sun., Dec. 12: Salvage and cleanup continues after a tornado ripped through the area two days prior in Mayfield, Kentucky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>A dog sits in a cage next to a sleeping man inside a shelter in Wingo, Ky.

Sun., Dec. 12: A dog sits in a cage next to a sleeping man inside a shelter in Wingo, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>Tornado damage is seen after extreme weather hit Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sun., Dec. 12: Tornado damage is seen after extreme weather hit Mayfield, Kentucky. / AFP/Getty Images

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12:</strong> Homes and business are reduced to rubble after a tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sun., Dec. 12: Homes and business are reduced to rubble after a tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sun., Dec. 12: </strong>A cleanup worker walks past damaged trees and debris at the end of the day in Mayfield, Ky.

Sun., Dec. 12: A cleanup worker walks past damaged trees and debris at the end of the day in Mayfield, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Damaged homes and businesses are pictured on in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Damaged homes and businesses are pictured on in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio for NPR

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> People help retrieve items from a destroyed home in Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: People help retrieve items from a destroyed home in Mayfield, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> A home reduced to rubble in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: A home reduced to rubble in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Firefighters survey tornado damages in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Firefighters survey tornado damages in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Chris Buchanan, right, lures dog Cheyenne from a tornado-damaged home with help from Niki Thompson, left, in Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Chris Buchanan, right, lures dog Cheyenne from a tornado-damaged home with help from Niki Thompson, left, in Mayfield, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> A damaged home which was lifted from its foundation and vehicles in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: A damaged home which was lifted from its foundation and vehicles in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio for NPR

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Staff sergeant Nicholas Sullivan, of Martin, Tennessee, moves debris away from a pathway alongside other U.S. Army volunteers in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Staff sergeant Nicholas Sullivan, of Martin, Tennessee, moves debris away from a pathway alongside other U.S. Army volunteers in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio for NPR

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Damaged USPS trucks sit behind the post office in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Damaged USPS trucks sit behind the post office in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio for NPR

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Duke Traux, 33, of Elizabethtown, Illinois, cuts a downed tree with a chainsaw while Isaiah Keys, 18, of McCracken, Kentucky, picks up pieces in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Duke Traux, 33, of Elizabethtown, Illinois, cuts a downed tree with a chainsaw while Isaiah Keys, 18, of McCracken, Kentucky, picks up pieces in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio for NPR

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> An American flag is propped against debris in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: An American flag is propped against debris in Mayfield, Kentucky. / St. Louis Public Radio

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> General view of tornado damaged structures in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Sat., Dec. 11: General view of tornado damaged structures in Mayfield, Kentucky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation on Saturday at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill.

Sat., Dec. 11: Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation on Saturday at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill. / St. Louis Public Radio

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11:</strong> Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation on Saturday at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill.

Sat., Dec. 11: Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation on Saturday at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill. / St. Louis Public Radio

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill.

Sat., Dec. 11: Workers attempt to clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation at an Amazon Distribution Hub in Edwardsville, Ill. / St. Louis Public Radio

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>Damage from a tornado is seen in downtown Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Damage from a tornado is seen in downtown Mayfield, Ky. / AP

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>In this aerial photo, a collapsed factory is seen with workers searching for survivors in Mayfield, Ky., after tornadoes came through the area the previous night.

Sat., Dec. 11: In this aerial photo, a collapsed factory is seen with workers searching for survivors in Mayfield, Ky., after tornadoes came through the area the previous night. / AP

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>Interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Interior view of tornado damage to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mayfield, Ky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>A Kentucky National Guard helicopter surveys the tornado damage near Mayfield Consumer Products on Saturday in Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: A Kentucky National Guard helicopter surveys the tornado damage near Mayfield Consumer Products on Saturday in Mayfield, Ky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>A classic Chevrolet sits amidst a tornado destroyed building on Saturday in Mayfield, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: A classic Chevrolet sits amidst a tornado destroyed building on Saturday in Mayfield, Ky. / Getty Images

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>People work at the scene of a train derailment after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes in Earlington, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: People work at the scene of a train derailment after a devastating outbreak of tornadoes in Earlington, Ky. / Reuters

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>A derailed train is seen amid damage and debris.

Sat., Dec. 11: A derailed train is seen amid damage and debris. / Reuters

<strong>Sat., Dec. 11: </strong>Local residents walk past the scene of a train derailment after devastating tornadoes in Earlington, Ky.

Sat., Dec. 11: Local residents walk past the scene of a train derailment after devastating tornadoes in Earlington, Ky. / Reuters