The Harrowing Moment When Storm Chasing Turned To Search And Rescue

Aerial view of a destroyed house in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, after a tornado touched down in the area March 27, 2023. - Storm-ravaged Mississippi on March 26, 2023 struggled with the aftermath of a huge tornado that tore across the southern US state and killed at least 25 people, with devastated communities bracing for a fresh bout of extreme weather. Mississippi started clean-up operations after a destructive tornado tore across the state, shredding houses and largely wiping out the small town of Rolling Fork. CHANDAN KHANNA/ACCUWEATHER

The small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, is still picking up the pieces from the catastrophic EF4 tornado that impacted the area on Friday – a process that was able to begin just moments after impact with the help of storm chasers and first responders.

Aaron Rigsby was one of several storm chasers stationed around Mississippi and Louisiana on Friday afternoon as atmospheric conditions put the area at high risk for severe weather. As the afternoon turned to evening, storms slowly developed and remained disorganized, prompting Rigsby to travel into eastern Mississippi from north-central Louisiana.