When severe weather, including a powerful tornado, swept through the town of Rolla, Mo. on March 14, Rolla Presbyterian Manor was fortunate to avoid the worst of the damage.
An EF-2 tornado, with peak winds of 120 mph, tore a path of destruction through the city. While the tornado did not hit Rolla Presbyterian Manor directly, the storm caused significant damage to the community.
High winds knocked down several trees — some were uprooted. One tree fell on an employee’s vehicle while another damaged the roof of cottage. The winds also tore apart the community’s signature white fencing, ripped up shingles from roofs, and knocked out electricity.
The manor’s leadership acted swiftly to to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and staff. No-one was hurt in the storm. A generator kicked in and kept electricity running to most of the building, allowing operations to continue.
Rolla Presbyterian Manor is grateful for the support and clean-up help it received from the community. A heartfelt thank you goes out to:
- Rolla Fire Department, John Frederick for helping us cut up trees
- Mike Arnold from Arnco for allowing us use of a trailer
- Mike’s Car Care for fixing a flat tire on the trailer at no charge
- Christ’s Mission Church – St. Roberts for helping us clean up around the community
- MFA Oil for making weekend deliveries of diesel fuel
- Rolla Municipal Utilities for getting electricity restored
Our hearts go out to those across Missouri affected by this storm, which claimed 12 lives. We remain thankful for the resilience and kindness of our community.
