Rolla community bands together during cleanup efforts following devastating tornado

ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Various members of the community worked from Friday night through Saturday to help with recovery efforts after the City of Rolla was hit by a tornado Friday.

"It's the community we work in, community we live in and I mean, every law enforcement that's there, first responder, it's home and it's hard to see that," Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Ralicia Tyler said.

Friday's tornado was the first in over ten years. The last tornado to touch down was on New Year's Eve in 2010, which killed three people.

Only minor injuries have been reported in Friday's storm, Tyler said.

After the storm passed, first responders went to work doorknocking and checking on citizens in the most hard-hit areas. Officials then fanned out and organized in a grid system to check the remaining residential areas.

The current focus is to get power restored.

Among the dozens of downed powerlines, shattered windows and destroyed roofs, community members have been banning together in support after the storm.

Outside of hosting a shorter version of the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, neighbors were reportedly grabbing their own chainsaws and gloves to help with cleanup.

"I would say the Rolla is good at being a community and so there's been a lot of outreach that's happened especially in downtown alone," Owner of Coffeesmiths coffeeshop Cheyenne Williams said.

Williams also joins several other businesses supporting local first responders as they sweep the area with other shops offering water, food, and electricity for those without power.

"Before we even closed to the public, we immediately started making just as much as we possibly could and sending it out to our first responders," Williams said. "It's small. Coffee's not nearly enough, but it's what we have. I have my kids with me, I don't have an opportunity to grab a chainsaw and start fixing the trees that are fallen across the street."

While first responders appreciate the help, Tyler urges people to pause clean up efforts until power is restored for their own safety.

"It's a huge danger when those utility lines are in the roadway and you really can't get around them, so for now, we would like them to hold off and we will let them know when we need the assistance," Tyler said.

It is still unclear when power will be fully restored.