City, county round up volunteers for storm cleanup

SBJ Staff

Posted online January 24, 2007 | 11:00 pm

The Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management is hoping to round up at least 1,500 volunteers this weekend for Hometown Cleanup – a large-scale effort to help residents clear tree limbs and other ice-storm debris.

The office has taken more than 500 requests for help in cleaning up debris, and more calls are expected by the end of the week, according to a news release.

On Saturday and Sunday, volunteers can meet at the West Commons Building on the Ozarks Technical Community College campus. Registration is 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the first 250 volunteers will receive a free T-shirt.

Volunteers will be broken into teams and sent to areas of the city and county needing assistance.

Chainsaw operators are needed most, the office says.

Volunteers are asked to wear work clothes, boots, gloves, safety glasses and ear protection, and they’re encouraged to bring tools such as chainsaws, fuel and oil, handsaws, limb lobbers, clippers, ladders, ropes and rakes. They also are asked to provide their own food and transportation.

Large groups are asked to pre-register with AmeriCorps at (888) 377-2100.

To ask for assistance in clearing debris, call (417) 869-6040 by Friday.[[In-content Ad]]