Local first responders have precautions in place after deadly Nashville tornado
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ0
The Columbia Fire Department and other local agencies have precautions in place if a tornado touched down.
A tornado touched down early Tuesday morning in downtown Nashville. It's blamed for at least 19 deaths.
Tennessee Emergency Management spokeswoman Maggie Hannan said police and fire crews spent hours pulling survivors and bodies from wrecked buildings.
Brad Fraizer, Columbia's Assistant Fire Chief said the Columbia fire department used the statewide tornado drill today to review their own station plans in case there was a tornado.
“It’s a great opportunity for people," said Fraizer. "It’s a reminder for all of us to kind of be thinking about what we would do in the event that we had a tornado.”
Fraizer said that Columbia is very fortunate as there are many resources within the community that have a lot of training and expertise in case something like that were to happen.
“We would very quickly be able to call in resources from not only locally but around the area again depending on the severity and size of the event and get the help that we need," said Fraizer.
Columbia fire has it's plan together if a tornado hits where people live and work focuses on getting to people affected as quickly as possible.
"In a densely populated area like the downtown, said Fraizer." "Of course, our concern is going to be search and rescue making sure that cause you've got more people."
Fraizer said the plan is to identify whatever life safety hazards are presented, getting services restored, providing proper emergency care to those that need it and then work and plan on restoring services back to normal.
"In addition to that, said Fraizer. "The community still has a need outside of the immediate area impacted for emergency services and other types of services the city provides. All those things are considered and are apart of our overall plan."
ABC 17 News also spoke with many downtown businesses about what they would do if tornado sirens sounded in Columbia.
Fred Garven, at American Shoes, said he has a basement where the employees and customers in the store could take cover.
"Well if someone is outside we’ll let them in, said Garven. "But we’re going to evacuate the area. It’s all glass so, unfortunately, we’re not really going to wait for anyone to come. We’re headed to the basement."
Garven said the store's basement has been used to take cover before.
"The sirens went off and we went to the basement," Garven said. "The longest we waited for an all-clear was right around 20 to 25 minutes."
Other businesses like Tallulahs and Binghams Traditional Clothing also have basements where they allow customers to take shelter in as well.
