December 10, 2021 Tornado Rocks Mayfield, Kentucky

On the evening of December 10, 2021, a high-end EF4 tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, killing eight employees of the candle factory (Mayfield Consumer Products) and injuring many others. The structure that housed Mayfield Consumer Products was leveled. It was later determined that a total of 22 people were killed in Mayfield as a result of the tornado, among numerous others who sustained injuries. Structures that were damaged include, but are not limited to, pharmacies, local businesses, churches, the Graves County Courthouse and Jail, and radio towers essential to communications for emergency responders.

Within minutes of the tornado’s damage, Overwatch Security Group arrived on the scene to begin securing these facilities to prevent citizens from entering unsafe structures for the sake of curiosity and/or looting. Structural vulnerabilities in pharmacies were a big concern. Gibson Pharmacy was being actively looted when we arrived in Mayfield, Kentucky. We then had Murray Police arrive a few hours later as they had been going structure to structure to help survivors.

Gibson’s Pharmacy, Mayfield, Kentucky Tornado Damage 12/10/2021

According to City-Data.com:
”The 2019 crime rate in Mayfield, KY is 403 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.5 times higher than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 91.8% U.S. cities. The 2019 Mayfield crime rate rose by 27% compared to 2018. In the last 5 years Mayfield has seen rise of violent crime and rise of property crime.”

Because of these statistics, we knew it was important that we take action. Since the tornado, we have assisted in Critical Infrastructure Operations in Mayfield, Kentucky while business try to rebuild and return to a sense of normalcy. It’s still an uphill climb for the city, but we are proud of our Officers and all of the progress that has been made in Mayfield.