Little Rock Fire Department Station 9 reflects on March 31 tornado nearly a year later

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nearly a year after the Mar. 31 tornadoes, first responders with the Little Rock Fire Department are looking back on a traumatic day.

Ben Hammond is Fire Station 9’s captain and said it was a day they will never forget.

“We went from where it was going to hit to it’s here and we’ve got to protect ourselves,” Hammond said.

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There was little to no time for the firefighters to process what was taking place.

“When we made the decision to take cover, it was about 90 seconds until the damage was done,” Hammond said.

After taking shelter, they were left distraught from the damage done to the station.

Hammond said everything was surreal, but the focus was still on those in need.

“If what we’re seeing right in front of our face is this bad, our community needs our help,” Hammond recalled.

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Andres Galvin is a firefighter on the nine-man crew that helped during the tornado and said he remembers having to gather himself quickly to get to work.

“The captain and the chief came in and said, ‘Hey my crew come with me, we’re going to go start checking these houses. Grab a tool. Grab a medical bag,’” Galvin said.

The crew was unable to get to their trucks because of damage, so they set out on foot. It was a catastrophic event that made them grow stronger as a team.

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Galvin said it was an experience that changed his outlook on everyone around him.

“You’ve got to cherish those moments and that family that you have because one day it could be gone,” he said.

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