Volunteers speed storm recovery efforts

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County officials are encouraged by the quick responses to the storm damage -- and by the volunteers lined up to help get things back to normal.

After touching base with commissioners at the Tuesday County Commission meeting, county emergency management director Tom Beardslee coordinated cleanup and recovery efforts for the day.

"That's the line that the tornado took," Beardslee said while tracing the route on a map to volunteers gathered to help survey the county Tuesday. "We have several destroyed properties."

Beardslee said the survey's purpose was to determine "what has already been cleaned up and what has not."

Older and disabled residents, for example, probably are not going to get storm debris cleaned anytime soon without assistance, he said.

Volunteers from the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, United Methodist Church's southeast district and Catholic Charities who helped with the survey said they would be happy to cut firewood from downed tree limbs for those who wanted it.

Beardslee said debris needs to be placed near the edge of the road in two piles: wood and metal.

After county highway department crews collect debris, it will be taken to dump sites, he said. Presiding County Commissioner Jamie Burger said the county has applied for a burn permit with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to help dispose of debris.

Beardslee said the Thomas W. Kelly High School football team has volunteered to provide labor for the cleanup. Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said he received a call from Ross Merideth of the Sikeston Jaycees offering manpower as well.

"Any damage to anybody's property is always a concern," Burger said, "but we have much to be thankful for: There were no injuries, and everything damaged can be rebuilt. We just ask that county residents be patient with us while we get it all cleaned up."

The County Commission appreciates the quick response from Ameren Missouri and SEMO Electric Cooperative in restoring power, Burger said, as well as the timely response of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Scott County Rural Fire Protection District, Scott County Sheriff's Department, Scott County Highway Department and Scott County Emergency Management Agency.

Burger said the area hit by the storms went from "complete devastation of the lines" to having new poles and lines in place and power restored within about 48 hours.

Burger said Jeremy Perrien, Scott County Rural Fire Protection District chief, was very helpful as was the use of the district's fire station in Blodgett, Mo., as a location to coordinate response efforts.

Also noted was the reaction of county residents.

"We are blessed to live where we live," Burger said. "There were neighbors helping neighbors immediately."

County commissioners said Mark Winkler, coordinator for the State Emergency Management Agency's Area E, was on-site since Sunday.

"We appreciate his expertise and aid," Burger said.

Also appreciated, Burger said, was the mobile command center provided by Sikeston police, including director Drew Juden assisting Sheriff Rick Walter.

Burger said the mobile command center was used to maintain a Web Emergency Operation Center link with State Emergency Management Agency in Jefferson City, Mo.

The county lost power, Burger said, and operated from generators. While the county could have done Web EOC on its own, it was good to not to tax county emergency power systems, he said.