Rolla recovers after confirmed EF-2 tornado strikes
ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Governor Mike Kehoe announced Monday that Missouri is requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Friday's deadly storms.
Kehoe asked FEMA to join preliminary damage assessments for 23 counties, including Camden County, Pulaski County and Phelps County. The visits will take place on Thursday.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-2 tornado hit the City of Rolla on Friday.
A news release from the governor said about 368 Missouri homes were destroyed and more than 350 have major damage.
Among the many Rolla residents picking up the pieces of their damaged home Monday was Bill Runtz.
"At the time of the tornado, I was laying on the bed right on the other side of the window watching TV when a tree came down and a large limb came from the roof and ceiling and it stopped about two feet from my head,” Runtz said.
Runtz grew up in what he described as the tornado alley of Illinois. He has lived in Rolla for 27 years and said what he heard tear through his southside neighborhood Friday night sounded like a "freight train."
“One beam in the house kept that limb from coming down further," Runtz said. "If it wasn’t for that one beam, I wouldn’t be standing here now.”
He said he is on the long list of people waiting to have the fire department come and remove debris from his yard.
An emergency shelter at the First Baptist Church Ministry Center, located at 801 N Cedar St. in Rolla, is available for displaced people or anyone affected in need of food or supplies.
Dozens of volunteers from the American Red Cross and the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief are providing more than just shelter to those in need.
“We just started meal service today and they're [MODR] only serving about 200 to the community,” Ann Stevenson of the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief said.
She said MODR can serve about 8,000 meals a day to Rolla residents.
Warm showers are available inside its traveling shower unit. An ADA-accessible shower space is also available. A fresh towel and body wash will be provided to use.
Anderson said she has seen true community amid disaster.
“Yesterday [Sunday] there were more chainsaws out than I think there were actually citizens of Rolla," Anderson said. "So they've [residents] really come together to help themselves and we're here to fill in the gaps.”
She said MODR will also assist the community with cleanup efforts.
“We'll be having teams arrive soon, probably Wednesday that will go out in the community, cut up the trees,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the top priority remains restoring power. According to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, more than 300 people are still without power in Phelps County as of Tuesday.
Rolla Public Schools canceled classes the week after the tornado hit. Classes are expected to resume March 31.
