Biden has declared a state of emergency in Kentucky where the deadly tornado claimed several lives.

He has signed a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration enabling for the release of funds for Kentucky, which is the worst affected state.

"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing," the White House said on Saturday.

More than 70 people died alone in Kentucky in Friday night's storms.

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The death toll is expected to rise above 100.

Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding and will apply to the counties of Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer, and Warren, the White House specified.

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In the early hours of Saturday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and asked President Biden for federal assistance after an outbreak of tornadoes ripped through the state, along a path extending more than 200 miles (320 kilometers).

The city of Mayfield was particularly hard-hit with more than 100 people huddled inside a candle manufacturing factory there when a tornado ripped through.

While a dozen people in the factory were killed, more than 40 people were rescued.

Emergency teams are carrying out searches through the rubble of the factory.

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Tens of thousands of people in the state are also facing acute power and water shortage.

Meanwhile, at least 12 people died in other states where tornadoes wreaked havoc, including six in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois.

[With UNI/Sputnik inputs]