Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear declared a statewide emergency on Friday, as 16 people have died and more than 300 were injured in Friday’s storms, state officials say.

By early Saturday morning, The Associated Press reported that 31 people died in the storms.

“We have reports of heavy damage in some areas of the state already, but the storm system has not cleared Kentucky yet,” Beshear said in a press release. “By declaring a state of emergency now for the entire state, we can deploy any needed state assistance, such as National Guard troops, without delay.”

The National Weather Service confirmed three tornados touched down in Henderson, Muhlenberg and Trimble counties, according to a press release.

Four were confirmed dead in Laurel County, Ky., by Saturday morning, said TFC Don Trosper, a Kentucky State Police public affairs officer in London, Ky.

Forty-one people were taken to the hospital in London. Another six were taken to UK’s hospital, five by helicopter and one by ambulance, he said.

Search and rescue operations are still under way for East Bernstadt, Ky., which is located about five miles north of London, Trosper said.

There are between 21,728 and 23,000 power outages statewide, according to reports from the Office of the Governor and the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

Heavy damage has been reported in Trimble, Morgan and Kenton counties, with some damage in Pendleton County.

Beshear authorized 275 National Guard Troops to assist Johnson, Laurel, Magoffin, Menifee and Morgan counties with storm-related damages, according to a press release.

Weather safety tips and weather alerts by county can be found on the Kentucky Emergency Management website at www.kyem.ky.gov.