David W. Smith/Daily NewsBill Whitlock, with the National Weather Service Storm team surveys the damage Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, after a tornado ripped through eastern Allen County, Ky., killing at least four people.

HOLLAND — At least four people were killed early this morning as a tornado swept through eastern Allen County.

The names of the victims weren’t released this morning, pending notification of their families.

An approximate 9-mile-long swath of destruction was visible along Ky. 99 between the Amos and Holland communities after winds estimated in excess of 100 mph overturned homes, knocked trailers off their foundations and snapped trees at about 2 a.m. this morning.

The Tracy Lane area, where the four victims were found, appeared especially hard hit. Emergency workers were sifting through debris this morning in a search for more victims.

One Tracy Lane resident was found trapped in the debris of her home. Workers lifted the roof of her home with airbags and a firefighter was able to pull her from the wreckage.

“She literally walked away from the scene,” Allen County Emergency Management Director Gary Petty said.

No estimates on the number of homes destroyed were available this morning, but the scope of the destruction led to the determination that a tornado struck the area.

Joe Sullivan, a warning coordinator metereologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville, was reviewing the damage in Allen County this morning.

The damage was undoubtedly caused by a tornado with wind speeds of more than 100 mph, based on the large trees that were snapped in half and torn from their roots, Sullivan said.

Gov. Steve Beshear was expected to helicopter into Allen County shortly before noon today after first visiting Monroe County.

“This is a horrible situation,” Beshear said in a news release. “The widespread storm damage has left death and devastation in its path. I am putting boots on the ground in these areas to view the destruction and determine how public emergency service can best assist those facing loss of family and property.”

Beshear also planned to visit Muhlenberg County, where three people were killed and a disaster was declared, Hardin County and Meade County.

Sam Downing, an Allen County volunteer firefighter assisting in this morning’s cleanup, said it had been a long night and he was expecting a long day.

Elsewhere in the region, Keirsten Jaggers, public information officer for the Department of Highways, said the storm left several routes closed because of downed trees, power lines and high water. They include:

In Allen County: Ky 585 (Old Franklin Road) between mile markers 7-8; Ky 1333 (Bandy Road) between mile markers 0-3 because of downed trees;

In Butler County: Ky 1153 (Dallam Creek Bridge) between mile markers 4-5;

In Logan County: Cooperstown Quality Road;

In Metcalfe County: Ky 2435 (Blue Springs Knob Lick Road)

In Monroe County: Ky 678; KY 63 between mile markers 10-11 because of downed power lines.