Tips for cleaning up after the storm

Storm cleanup started in earnest Friday when a Lynwood Baptist Church team descended on a Cape Girardeau neighborhood.

They are members of the Southern Baptist Chainsaw Ministry, according to the Rev. John Rhodes, New Bethel Baptist Church pastor. He's helping coordinate the efforts, which are drawing teams from northeast Missouri and Iowa.

Members of the disaster relief ministry are carrying chain saws and want to help anyone who is physically or financially unable to clear the trees and branches felled by the ice storm.

Their work is rooted in words from the book of Matthew, which says "if you've done to the least of these, you've done unto me," Rhodes said. "Those are the people we're trying to reach out to."

The volunteers have responded to recent Southeast Missouri tornadoes as well as the ice storm last year in Springfield, Mo.

"If somebody from northern Scott County or the Marble Hill area needs help, we'll put them on the list," Rhodes said. "I can't guarantee we'll get everybody. It depends on how long the teams can stay here and help."

Cape Girardeau County is providing the ministry headquarters space and phone lines for this project.

The Chainsaw Ministry will cut up the debris and put it at the roadside for pickup by local waste removal crews.

The headquarters for this ministry will be located in the Cape Girardeau County Administration building.

Apply by phone or in person at the Cape Girardeau County Administration building, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Enter from the High Street door. Volunteers who want to help drag debris to the street can call or visit the Chainsaw Ministries as well. Volunteers must be physically fit.

Call 204-2599 or visit the administration building at 1 Barton Square, Jackson. Applications will be processed by priority, with emergency access and special needs being serviced first.

Here's what some cities are asking from residents:

Cape Girardeau

The City of Cape Girardeau Public Works Department has lifted the limit on the number of bags for regular trash pick-up.

Monday trash pickup has been delayed until Tuesday, because city offices are closed for Presidents Day. Tuesday's trash and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday; the city has canceled Wednesday special pickups this week.

The city's transfer station, at 2500 South Sprigg St., will accept spoiled food and meat free of charge. Hours at the station are extended, starting Monday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, until further notice. Sinkhole repairs underway require people to enter South Sprigg Street from South Kingshighway.

Jackson

Put tree limbs, brush and yard waste within 10 feet of the street pavement or curb line. The city's recycling center, 508 Eastview Court, will also accept storm debris from residents only, during business hours, Monday through Saturday. Debris from hired contractors, such as limbs or tree or other material will not be accepted. Call 243-2300 for more information.

Chaffee

Crews are going street-by-street to chip limbs and trees. Put yard waste near the curb. Bulky refuse will be collected on regular solid waste days, with no extra charges for that pickup. Call 887-3558 for more information.

Scott City

Bring broken limbs to curbside or street side, bundled in 4-foot lengths over the next two weeks. Call 264-2157 for more information.

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Food safety

The Cape Girardeau County Health Department offers the following food safety tips, for sorting out food once power is restored.

Remember: If in doubt, throw it out.

-- Carefully examine each item. Do not rely on appearance or odor. Never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they've been at room temperature too long, bacteria may have multiplied enough to cause illness.

-- Discard frozen food that has thawed or was held above 40 degrees (refrigerator cold) for more than two hours. Bacteria may multiply to unsafe levels under these conditions.

-- Most foods that contain ice crystals may be refrozen. Improperly stored or mishandled foods will not be safe to eat by refreezing.

-- Carefully examine meat and poultry packages. Throw them away if the color or odor is questionable. Thawed meat and poultry should be thoroughly cooked before refreezing and used as soon as possible.

-- Fruits (including juices): Refreeze only what looks and smells acceptable.

-- Vegetables: Thoroughly cook thawed vegetables. Serve immediately or refreeze after cooking.

-- Fish and shellfish are perishable. Throw them away, even without a bad smell, they are spoiled.

-- Toss melted or soft ice cream.

-- Breads, cakes and pastries without custard fillings may be refrozen, but use as soon as possible.

-- Casseroles, pies, combination salads, stews -- cook or reheat thoroughly; serve immediately.

-- Discard fresh fruits and vegetables that are moldy, slimy, or have a yeast odor.

-- Foods labeled "refrigerate after opening" should be pitched after being unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

-- Well-wrapped margarine and butter can usually be kept as long as it does not melt. Discard if rancid odors develop.

-- Home-prepared foods should be discarded if they have been unrefrigerated more than two hours.

-- Dump any fully cooked food that touched raw meat, poultry or seafood juices.