Neighbors prepare ahead of Springfield storm debris clean-up day

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield's citywide storm debris clean-up day is this Thursday, July 17.

Volunteers will go and help those who need assistance dragging any limbs to their curb.

After the volunteer day on July 17, the city will begin to pick up the curbside debris in phases.

Public Works will start sweeping the city by council zone.

Zone One: July 21-25
Zone Three: July 28 - August 1
Zone Two: August 11-15
Zone Four: August 18-22

Monday, July 14th, is the last day you can request assistance. To request help to get the limbs to your curb click here.

"There are a lot of old folks that really can't even get stuff dragged through the front yard," said Robert Jones, who lives in the Tom Watkins neighborhood. "So they really need a lot of help. I think it's a good deal."

Jones was able to get the limbs to his curb but not haul them off on his own.

"If my ex in-laws would come and get it, then, you know, they're going to," Jones said. "But I don't know when they're going to be able to."

He says they own a tree-trimming business and have been busy these last few months.

"So if they don't get it in time then the city can get it if they want to," Jones said.

"The neighbor's tree fell on our house," said Linda Eggers. "And we had the Missouri Baptist Relief Center, we were blessed they came and took it down for free."

Linda Eggers says some of that debris from the tree falling down is still in her backyard.

Volunteers for the clean-up day on Thursday will rally at one of 14 parks across town for a morning or afternoon shift.

Anyone who signed up to volunteer with the city will be matched up with someone who requested assistance.

"It's amazing," Eggers said. "Especially at a time like this, we all help each other."

Jones tells Ozarks First he would be open to volunteering to help drag limbs.

"I can't do a whole lot," Jones said. "I mean, I've had two strokes a couple of years ago. I do what I can, though."

This volunteer day and clean-up sweep will only be for people inside Springfield city limits.

"Right now, there's not any plans for outside the city limits or out into the unincorporated areas of the county," said Greene County Emergency Management Director Larry Woods. "A lot of those areas have already had significant progress towards cleanup in the last couple of months."