Columbia Fire Department assistant chief describes wreckage in Rolla

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Members of the Columbia Fire Department and other agencies went to Rolla after the area was devastated by storms on Friday night.   

CFD Assistant Fire Chief Lester Shewmake was among those who responded after the tornado hit. He said seeing the destruction left behind gave a “different feeling.”

“I've been down there quite a few times, so to know what it normally looks like and then to go in those conditions when it's late at night and it's all the lights are out, it's just a different feeling,” he said. “It's quiet, just kind of seeing some of the destruction, it just kind of opens your eyes to the power of what can happen.”

After finishing searches, crews from Columbia returned home at 3 a.m. Saturday.