Deep Dive (Dec. 13): Deadly Tornadoes Trigger State of Emergency

Tiffany Meier
By Tiffany Meier
December 13, 2021Deep Dive
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A swarm of deadly tornadoes in Kentucky left homes and businesses destroyed and dozens dead. Kentucky’s Gov. Andy Beshear called the collection of tornadoes the most destructive in the state’s history. The powerful twisters destroyed a candle factory as well as the fire and police stations in a small town in Kentucky, ripped through a nursing home in neighboring Missouri, and killed at least six workers at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new indoor mask mandate takes effect Monday morning. Now New Yorkers will be required to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces unless businesses have a vaccine requirement. Anyone who violates the mask mandate could face fines of up to $1,000. This comes as Philadelphia announces vaccine passports for indoor dining. The city’s health commissioner announced Monday it’s set to take effect starting Jan. 3. What’s not included are grocery stores and convenience stores.

At least four states in recent weeks have called in members of the National Guard to deal with health care staffing issues. Those states are Indiana, New Hampshire, Maine, and New York. The Indiana Department of Health confirmed to local media that Guard members were sent to 13 facilities after officials with Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, made the request. In New Hampshire, authorities confirmed several days ago that about 70 Guard members would be deployed within the coming weeks to provide non-clinical support at medical care facilities. As for Maine, Democrat Gov. Janet Mills said on Dec. 8 that she activated about 75 additional National Guard members. And in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, announced that the state’s National Guard would conduct a similar mission at state hospitals.

Tune into Deep Dive as we explore these topics and more.

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