Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Support for Cameron from Outside the Town

T.J. Carson
Kids from Monmouth work to wash one of Cameron's fire trucks.

Residents of Cameron still don’t know if they will receive federal or state aid to assist in the aftermath of the July 16 tornado. But volunteers from outside the community are helping make life easier for them.

One person helping out is Johnny Carey, Disaster Program Manager with the American Red Cross from El Dorado, Arkansas. Carey led the Multi Agency Response Center that was open on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Carey said the support he’s seen for the town makes him feel good about humanity. 

"America, like always, will stick together. Stick together and fight for one another,” Carey said.

Carey has been in Cameron for more than a week. He said as an outsider, he’s observed a proud and tight-knit community.

Support for the people of Cameron has also come from children. 12-year-old DelanyRexroat of Monmouth joined with four other 12- and 10-year-olds to do a variety of tasks and small jobs.

“We’ve cleaned ATVs and we, me and my sister came here, and we helped pickup sticks and just debris,” Rexroat said.

Rexroat said her desire to help came from seeing the damage the day after the tornado struck and wanting to help out in any way she could. Delany’s father is Casey, who is the Monmouth Fire Chief and the Warren County Emergency Manager. Casey said the work gives the kids a way to help that isn’t too stressful and doesn't require a lot of effort.

Friends from outside of Cameron have also helped out. Bryan Spence lives eight miles west of Monmouth, and brought his family to help a friend who suffered roof and garage damage.

“We cleaned up all the trees here in the ditch, we’ve hauled them all over here and got them out of these people’s yard,” Spence said.