Justin Edwards isn’t new to responding to storms.
Edwards, a lieutenant in the Starkville Fire Department, was one of nine firefighters that traveled to Columbus to assist with emergency response after a deadly tornado tore through the city on Saturday. He was also one of the responders from Starkville who helped in emergency search and rescue operations after Hurricane Michael slammed into Florida last fall.
On Saturday, the SFD responders who went to Columbus primarily worked on damage assessment, though Edwards said they carried medical equipment in case they came across anyone who needed assistance. They traveled around 20th and 22nd streets North. By the time they arrived in the area, Edwards said, people were out and taking stock of the damage.
“Right through there was a little bit of damage, but when we got to (Columbus Success Academy at the old Hunt High School), that’s when you could tell there was some significant damage,” he said. “It ranged from just a couple of shingles on some houses to some houses that had trees on them and some buildings that you could tell were destroyed.”
Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough, who also went to Columbus after the storm, said Starkville’s firefighters split into two groups. He said they remained there for a few hours after the storm until more inclement weather passing through forced an end to operations for the night.
It’s not unusual for SFD to send firefighters to help with disaster response in other areas of the state or country, but Yarbrough said it can be different, emotionally, when a disaster happens close to home.
“When you send people off, it’s a little bit different, but these people — my wife is from Columbus,” Yarbrough said. “A lot of people she knows, I know. Her grandma actually stays on 22nd Street so it changes everything a little bit when you’re going that close because you know some people.”
Edwards said the tornado — which had a maximum path width of 440 yards according to preliminary survey results from the National Weather Service in Jackson — left a more compact trail of destruction than Hurricane Michael. However, he said it was, in places, just as severe as what the hurricane left behind.
“In Florida, there was damage everywhere,” he said. “The whole city of Panama City was just in shambles. This, it was more compact. The damage area was smaller — smaller scale but you could see some of the buildings had the same outcomes.”
Other aid
The firefighters who assisted with assessment Saturday night were just a component of the assistance Starkville and West Point have sent to Columbus after the tornado.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said electric workers from the utilities department have deployed to the city as well.
“We certainly are happy to be able to help our neighboring cities,” she said. “Particularly when they’re part of the Golden Triangle, we feel a great affinity for them and are very sorry that it occurred, but happy to be of assistance at a time when they need us.”
West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson said the city sent electric workers, as well as police officers to help with traffic control on Sunday. West Point also sent firefighters to help with search and rescue on Saturday after the storm hit.
“Columbus is our neighbor, and when they’re in trouble, you help your neighbor,” Robinson said. “It’s close to home because you may know many of the people there personally. I have a daughter who is married and lives in Columbus. I have several friends in Columbus.”
Starkville Utilities Department General Manager Terry Kemp said the department sent five linemen, along with some bucket trucks and equipment to help Columbus Light and Water as it works to restore services after the storm. He said SUD is sharing materials to help in the work, and will likely keep some men in Columbus for most of the week.
Columbus Light and Water General Manager Todd Gale said six cities — Starkville, West Point, Louisville, Tupelo, Aberdeen and Amory — have sent workers to help with storm recovery efforts. The combined help has roughly doubled CLW’s electric workforce, and is helping work move along at a faster clip than it would if the city were left to handle efforts on its own.
After Saturday’s storm, Gale said, about 4,700 people were left without power. By Monday evening, that number was down to 800 people. However, Gale said getting power to those last customers will be the hardest work because its in the area that suffered the worst damage.
Gale said he was thankful for the assistance from surrounding cities.
“That’s our motto,” Gale said. “This isn’t the first time they’ve been down here and it wouldn’t be the first time we would have gone to visit them. All of us together have a mutual aid agreement, so it’s understood that when someone needs help, you’re going to go out and help somebody.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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