FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. - Recovery efforts continue today, Jan. 2, following a level-3 tornado that caused four minor injuries and widespread structural damages Dec. 31.
The Fort Leonard Wood Emergency Operations Center reports that all four injuries have been treated and all people were released.
Soldiers from the 92nd Military Police Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade have been escorting families back to their homes in order to recover personal belongings that may have been left during the mandatory evacuation as well as any pets.
“Our family went to the closet when the storm hit,” said Capt. Lamonte Russell, an officer with the 3rd Chemical Brigade, who was caught in his home during the tornado. “It was part of our family emergency plan and luckily - it worked!”
Russell and his family had to be extracted from their home, which had collapsed during the storm.
Sgt. Andrew Dean, a military policeman with the 463rd MP Company, was the first to respond to Russell after the tornado ripped through their home.
“I heard someone yelling from the rubble as I walked down their street,” said Dean.
“There was a hole just large enough to fit their son through,” he said. “So I took him and then reassured them that the fire department would be there soon with equipment to get them out.”
Russell and all other displaced families have been provided lodging, including temporary furniture, cooking utensils and other home essentials while the recovery continues.
Maj. Gen. David E. Quantock, commanding general, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, said that post has suffered more than a million dollars in damage, but he remains optimistic.
“We have made phenomenal progress within the first 24 hours,” said Quantock. “Our number one priority is safety but we also want to ensure that our soldiers and family members that were effected by the storm can gain some normalcy as quickly as possible.”
The 4th MEB soldiers will continue to provide safety and security for those effected by the New Year's Eve tornado.
Date Taken: | 01.02.2009 |
Date Posted: | 01.02.2011 11:16 |
Story ID: | 62894 |
Location: | FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, US |
Web Views: | 412 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Leonard Wood Tornado Recovery In Full Swing, by SFC Heather Denby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.