Missouri S&T leaders joined state and local officials in a coordinated recovery effort following the recent tornado that struck the Rolla area on Friday, March 21. State Representative Tara Peters organized the event.
The clean-up included participation from Governor Mike Kehoe, State Representative Don Mayhew, staff representation from Congressman Jason Smith’s office, Mayor Lou Magdits, Police Chief Sean Fagan, Fire Chief Jeff Breen, City Administrator John Butz, Chancellor Mo Dehghani and many other Rolla and surrounding area leaders.
More than 1,800 volunteers have registered to support disaster recovery efforts throughout the week.
Missouri S&T’s Commitment to Community Recovery
Missouri S&T has been working alongside city officials, first responders, and community members to support recovery efforts since the tornado hit. The university remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and the broader Rolla community.
From immediate response to long-term support, Missouri S&T has taken action:
- Emergency Coordination: Chancellor Dehghani and the S&T Chief of Police participated in emergency command center coordination, responding directly to community needs.
- Mobilization of Resources: S&T’s Facilities team deployed equipment, vehicles, and staff beginning Saturday morning to aid cleanup and restoration.
- Volunteer Engagement: Students, faculty, and staff from organizations including Lambda Sigma Pi, Campus Christian Fellowship, Army ROTC, and athletics helped distribute water, food, and remove debris.
- Engineering Expertise: Civil engineering students and faculty assisted in damage assessment and recovery planning.
- Hazard Mitigation Research: Dr. Grace Yan and the Center for Hazard Mitigation and Community Resilience deployed drone technology to assess storm damage, providing critical data to local and state agencies.
- Support for Displaced Residents:
- Showers at Gale Bullman were opened to the public through March 21.
- The student recreation center is serving as a safe space for families and children with games, charging stations, and water.
- Laundry services are available at Thomas Jefferson Hall through March 21.
- Emergency housing is being provided for displaced students.
- Ongoing Student Support: Faculty and staff have been asked to remain flexible with impacted students. The UCARE team continues to offer emergency financial and wellness support.
- Employee Well-being: Supervisors were encouraged to check in with employees, approve needed time off, and assist those affected.
About the Parade
Following discussions with the Mayor’s Office, Rolla Police, Campus Police, county officials, and emergency personnel, the decision was made to hold a limited and controlled parade rather than risk an unstructured gathering of thousands already in town. In response to community needs, the parade was restructured as a fundraising event to support local recovery efforts, with all proceeds going toward assistance initiatives. Missouri S&T remains deeply committed to Rolla and its recovery. We will continue working closely with local leaders to ensure an organized and effective response. We appreciate the care and concern expressed by so many and welcome continued discussions on how we can further support those in need.