SIKESTON, Mo. — Mayor Greg Turnbaugh asked community members to be patient Tuesday morning as they assess all the damage in the area.
“Our main concern right now is getting power and getting into the community, and once we get that we'll be able to go further and answer more questions,” Turnbaugh said.
Acting state Gov. Mike Kehoe and state emergency management agencies also worked with the mayor to address community concerns. They are assessing storm damage in southeast Missouri and learning what state resources may be needed. City leaders said about 30% of people in Sikeston alone were without power.
The buzz of chainsaws and the sound of heavy machinery filled Sikeston's neighborhoods Tuesday as community members, families and rescue groups worked to clean up the city.
“I couldn't see, you couldn't see anything but the tree. It just, it cracked, I mean, fell down and landed between my house and another tree,” community member Grace Brown said .
Since Sunday's storm, Brown and her daughter have been busy cutting tree limbs, putting tarps on roofs and clearing debris while trying to stay positive. Like Brown, many others in the community are cleaning houses themselves. That's why people with the city's Department of Public Safety say cleaning requires safety and vigilance.
“They should make sure the branches are not connected to the main tree… It's this time of year, so be careful about snakes. I don't want anyone to get bitten by snakes, spiders, any kind of insect,” Assistant Director Nan Scott Bobby Wallace said.
It's also important to note that trees aren't the only things down across the city—power lines are, too. Wallace said avoid them.
“Don't try to clean up the mess around until the power company comes and removes the downed wires,” he said.
When people are cleaning their yards, it's also important to stay hydrated.
Despite all the damage she saw, Brown was happy to see her community working together to clean up.
“I feel like if you help your neighbor, they're going to help you, so if you reach out to them, maybe they'll pay for it,” Brown said.
Any branches or trees can be hauled to the city’s compost site, which is currently open daily.
Sikeston remains under a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and the Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Sikeston YMCA for those who are still without power. They have about 40 cots and shower rooms.
