We’re learning much more about the first response to the Spanish Lakes community after it was hit by a deadly EF3 tornado earlier this month.
WPTV reporter Tyler Hatfield spoke to firefighters to hear about what they did on that tragic day and recounted what they saw.
Six people died when a powerful tornado hit the senior community on Oct. 9.
Hatfield sat down with St. Lucie County Fire District Lt. Jeremy Rouse to learn about his team’s response and how it was the most intense call of his career.
WPTVRouse said they had about 45 firefighters at the scene after the tornado hit.
His team saw mobile homes completely destroyed, others were tossed around and some were propelled into trees.
Rouse said they set up a command post immediately inside the Spanish Lakes clubhouse.
“The hard part that we struggle with sometimes is knowing the loss that people went through,” Rouse said. “You don’t have time to think. You don’t have time to even take in what’s going on. It’s just, this is what’s happening. This is what I need to do. Let’s get it done.”