Authorities say help by checking on neighbors

The most important thing people can do in the aftermath of the ice storm besieging Southeast Missouri is to be neighborly, emergency officials say.

"Please check on your neighbors, especially the elderly," says Capt. Paul Breitenstein of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

Anybody known to need oxygen or having other medical conditions requiring power is in jeopardy this situation. Don't assume people are OK, Breitenstein said.

"Just knock on the door. Be neighborly. Ask, Do you need anything? Are you warm? In a lot of cases somebody may have power on one side of the street and not on the other."

The Cape Girardeau Police Department is available to respond to anyone who needs assistance. "If you're cold or hungry, we'll get somebody who can help," said Sgt. Barry Hovis.

The fire department number is 334-3211. The Cape Girardeau Police Department number is 335-6621.

The A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau and Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson have been designated as overnight shelters. They will open at 6 p.m. today.

Dispatcher Fay Reiminger said the Jackson Fire Department has been getting calls from people wanting to volunteer to help. "They're worried about older people who don't have a family," she said.

She said a 25-year-old man named Adam called Tuesday and said he'd just gotten off work and wanted to know if he could volunteer to help in any way.

None of the public safety or service agencies reported needing citizen help.

Boarding animals is one need. Only service animals will be allowed in the Red Cross shelters at the Arena Building and at Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson, said Cheryl Klueppel, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross. She said people are welcome to bring their own snacks and invited contributions to help cover the cost of providing breakfasts in the morning.

Klueppel advises people who plan to spend the night at the shelters and have pets to contact the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri or local kennels to see about boarding their pets.

At the Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management Agency, Charlie Griffith reiterated the call to check on elderly neighbors. He also said to stay home unless leaving is absolutely necessary and to make sure pets are safe and warm. "They have to be taken care of like some member of the family," he said.

Maj. Ben Stillwell at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau said only about a dozen people had come in to warm up Tuesday. He did get a request from someone in Marion, Ill., who wanted the Salvation Army to put a family up in a motel. He said the Salvation Army isn't doing that in this situation.

He asked that people who bring in pets have them on a leash.

Breitenstein said the fire department teaches and preaches about disaster preparedness throughout the year. The growing dependence on debit cards can be problematic during a widespread power outage in which they can be useless. It helps to have some cash on hand," Breitenstein said.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137