Columbiana County firefighters in Kentucky to assist in tornado recovery
COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio - The search continues for more than 100 people still missing after devastating Kentucky tornadoes Friday.
Volunteers continue to lend a helping hand, including responders from Columbiana County.
Calcutta firefighters Randy Schneider and Chief Dave Mccoy along with Hanover Township firefighter Tim Roush hit the road at midnight Tuesday to Mayfield, Kentucky.
"We came up over a hill and there was a sign that said 'Welcome to Mayfield' and it was in the middle of downtown," Schneider said, "As soon as you came up that hill and came down, you instantly saw all the destruction of downtown and the neighborhoods."
They brought a fire pickup truck, chainsaws, water and supplies to help any way they can.
The Mayor of Mayfield greeted them with a hug when they arrived and then they got to work.
"She just kind of fell into Chief McCoy's arms with thankfulness," Schneider said, "Right off the bat she gave us a hug, and then she goes 'Alright boys time to get to work,' and we're like 'OK that's what we're here for!' and instantly boom... we had jobs to do."
They said they began the day by assisting Mayfield first responders, many of who have not slept in days, get their city operations back in tacked after being destroyed.
"City hall... the fire department... the police department is completely destroyed, crushed...all the doors are actually completely crushed in. Most of the ceilings are crushed in, so we've been helping them transport equipment," he said, "Seeing a crushed fire department, a police department is already pretty heart-wrenching along with people's homes. We're watching homeowners not just try to pick up their homes, but their lives."
Schneider added they also plan to assist the search and rescue teams to help find over one hundred people still missing.
"If they need us to work through the night, we will, just based on whatever the person in charge wants us to do," Schneider said, "As first responders at the fire department, we see people at the worst times in their lives and that's just in one home or two homes sometimes, and now we're looking at whole neighborhoods upon neighborhoods being wiped down."
