Perryville community bands together for cleanup after storm

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) — A Perry County school district and several homes are recovering after a late Friday night storm caused widespread damage. The Perryville community is rallying together for cleanup efforts, embodying the motto “Perry County Small but Mighty.”

Community responds to help clean up, a local volunteer, shared how hugs, handshakes, and hard work can heal heartache.

Over the past 72 hours, residents have united to assist elderly neighbors like Ed Thompson with storm damage.

Ed Thompson, a longtime Perryville resident, recalled the fear he felt as the storm approached. “It was scary for an old man like me,” Thompson said. He barely made it downstairs before the storm hit, and afterward, he found pieces of his home were missing, including a shed that contained irreplaceable items.

“It was stuff in that shed that I can’t replace,” Thompson said. While his shed and some windows were damaged, Thompson is thankful to be safe. “I’m glad the good Lord kept me here. Apparently, my job on earth isn’t finished.”

Volunteer efforts help make a difference, due to his age, cleaning up was difficult for Thompson. But local residents like Keith Carroll stepped in to help. Carroll organized a group of over 40 volunteers who spent Sunday cleaning up yards and homes for those unable to do it themselves, including elderly residents and a partially disabled man.

“We put together a group through social media, and we had people from Perry County, surrounding southeast Missouri, and even Illinois come to help,” Carroll said. “By Sunday afternoon, we were able to clean up four homes, including those of elderly couples and disabled residents.”

The City of Perryville reported nearly 300 damaged homes, in addition to damage to the local school. Officials expect it will take several weeks, possibly months, for full recovery.

But the community remains resilient, with people like Keith Carroll proving that together, they can overcome challenges.

Carroll shared the inspiration behind his efforts: “When you think about your kids and grandkids, you want to have a good community for them. The most important thing is leading by example.” Carroll was especially proud of the young people who helped, noting that many under 20 years old joined in to show the value of hard work and responsibility.

Looking ahead Carroll is continuing his cleanup efforts, reaching out to residents for permission to enter properties. He plans to organize another group of volunteers for a second round of cleanup this weekend.