SCOTTSVILLE — The state of Kentucky has offered any help that it can to areas impacted by tornadoes that ripped through several sections of Kentucky on Wednesday, including Allen County.

Gov. Steve Beshear landed at Allen County-Scottsville High School just before noon Wednesday to speak with local responders about tornado cleanup efforts.

Beshear was flying by helicopter to the affected areas Wednesday to get a perspective of the damage. He declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning. The Kentucky National Guard has also been activated to provide assistance.

Click here for photos of damage from the storms.

The tornado hit a primarily rural area of southeast Allen County and killed four people. The storm also resulted in 13 injuries and destroyed 12 homes, said Allen County Sheriff Sam Carter. The tornado caused damage within a nine-mile long swath that was up to a mile wide.

Killed were Mike Dow, 50, and Joy Dow, 58, of 1036 Tracy Road, and Linda Stephens, 53, and her 2-year-old grandson Hunter Stephens of 103 Tracy Lane, according to sheriff’s office reports.

Joy Dow was a nurse at Greenview Regional Hospital and her husband, Mike, was a technician at Harley-Davidson of Bowling Green, according to Alan Palmer, marketing director for Greenview.

The latest report lists the injured and their conditions as: Steve Farrington, serious; Eula Stevens, critical; William Stevens Sr., undetermined; William Stevens Jr., undetermined; Kevin Stevens, critical; Felicia Stevens, fair; Jerry Enis, serious; Bobby Frost, undetermined; Shirley Ennis, stable; Casey Stevens, stable and William Stevens, stable. Another person was believed to have been transferred to TJ Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow, but further information was not available.

Joe Sullivan, a warning coordinator meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville, confirmed Wednesday that it was a tornado that struck and that a preliminary damage estimate placed the storm’s strength at EF3, with speeds of up to 130 or 135 mph.

By Wednesday morning, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency responders had been able to go to each house and check the welfare of every person, he said.

“Unless there was someone visiting that we didn’t know about, every person has been accounted for,” Carter said.

The first call about the storm came in at 1:57 a.m., Carter said. A clock found in the debris at one of the homes had stopped at 1:50 a.m.

Allen County Judge/Executive Bobby Young said he was concerned about funding for those who lost everything in the tornado.

The local fire and emergency workers have done an amazing job, Beshear said Wednesday as he toured the storm-damaged areas in Allen County.

“I want you to let me know if there’s anything I can help you with,” he said.

Damage assessments will be provided from areas all over Kentucky, and if those meet the necessary thresholds, federal aid can be requested, Beshear said.

“We’ll get to that as expeditiously as we can get the information,” he said. “FEMA has stated they are ready to review as soon as we get them the information.”

It’s important for local groups to tackle problems as they arise, Beshear said.

It is recommended that local responders work the American Red Cross and other local groups to provide assistance until a damage assessment can be done, said Charlie Winter, assistant director of emergency management for Kentucky.

The state will have to meet different thresholds for aid to be available for homeowners and small business to determine if they will be eligible for federal aid, Winter said. At this time, it is not certain if Kentucky will meet those thresholds.

“There is no certain timetable for when those assessments will be made,” he said.

Allen County officials continued to limit access to the worst of the damaged area Wednesday, but did begin to allow insurance adjustors to begin entering the area, said Gary Petty, emergency management director for Allen County. Family members were also allowed on site to review damage and try to salvage items.

“We’ll do a windshield survey to estimate damage and then look at property tax records to come up with a reasonable estimate of damage,” he said.

By today, crews had been able to clean most of the trees from Bandy Road, which had been impassible early in the day.

The heavily wooded road was surrounded by trees that were on the ground after the tornado’s winds had snapped them like toothpicks. The roadside looked more like a forest that had been clear-cut than the heavily wooded area it had been just an hour before.

Donations were coming in from many local businesses and individuals to the American Red Cross station set up at Pleasant Field Full Gospel Church on Pleasant Field Church Road east of Scottsville.

Marlene White, shelter manager in Allen County, said that about 70 people had come to the church for shelter at one time during the day.

“We can sleep about 60 people here,” she said.

In addition, people were coming to the church Wednesday to donate food, clothing and other items for those impacted by the tornado.

There were church groups, individuals and several Mennonite groups who came to the East Allen Volunteer Fire Department to volunteer for cleanup work. Local restaurants in Scottsville had also donated food for all the first responders.

“The people of Allen County are the most loving people I’ve ever been around,” White said. “They’ve been absolutely wonderful here.”

Those wishing to help can best do so by making monetary donations, said Jennifer Capps, executive director of the southcentral Kentucky Red Cross chapter.

“We’re interviewing those impacted today. Cash donations will help them to be able to purchase exactly what they need,” she said.

The Red Cross is also having blood drives at the following locations: Woodburn Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday or at the Red Cross Blood Center at 430 Center St. in Bowling Green during business hours.

Cash donations can be mailed or taken to the Center Street location or dropped off at television station WBKO on Russellville Road on Friday or Saturday, when the station is hosting a drive to raise money for tornado victims, Capps said.