(KMIZ)Emergency officials confirmed that firefighters responded to eight water rescues involving vehicles on Thursday as flooding affected the area after heavy rain. The Columbia Fire Department and Boone County Fire Protection District responded to eight total rescues, four of which they responded together. Both Boone County and the Columbia Fire Department were there, but CFP left shortly after rescue was handled by Boone. Kelley added that the volume of calls led emergency officials to activate the Emergency Operations Center, bringing multiple agencies together to coordinate resources. The Emergency Operations Center brought together representatives from Boone County, the City of Columbia, emergency responders, utilities, the health department and Columbia Public Schools to help manage the response.