CARSON, Calif. — In the parking lot of the Carson Community Center, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works mobile team and a group of Carson residents can be found volunteering their time to help others fill out city and county claim forms.

The volunteers are with Brandi Murdock, a resident who previously ran for City Council.

"I have people in my phone that are telling me, 'I tried to bear the smell. It's unbearable. I will go relocate anywhere if you can just help me because I've been on the list for a long time. I don't know where I am on the list,'" Murdock said.

The LA County Department of Public Works is helping residents with relocation and reimbursements. The city of Carson allocated $100,000 for resident reimbursements, but Murdock said she believes that is not enough.

She wants to see more local outreach efforts. That is why she is using funds from her nonprofit Murdock Community Services, Inc., in partnership with Catalyst Cares, to help people fill out forms, relocate and provide air purifiers.  

"Our city is not feeling well and we need to get better and I don't know how to say it to anybody any other way. I'm trying to shout it from the rooftops that people need to evacuate. People are sick and this is week three," Murdock said.

CJ Taylor, who lives nearby, said the odor has flared her health issues. Now, she is looking into relocating.

"The smell is really bad. It's really bad. I have COPD and I have asthma as it is and I take breathing treatments. It's difficult to breathe. I'm coughing and now there's a metallic taste in my mouth," Taylor said.

With the help of Murdock's volunteers, Taylor decided to come down to the Carson Community Center parking lot and make sure she filled out her forms correctly.

"It's a pretty easy read. But it's still going to be difficult for a lot of people to fill it out," Taylor said.

Volunteers have been in the area since Monday, but they have been met with calls to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to move the group out of the area for not having a permit.

Spectrum News reached out to the city of Carson for comment but has not heard back.

While the odor remains in the area, Murdock has relocated her family and remains determined to help as many residents as she can.

"I want them to get out of here. My kids weren't feeling well, they are feeling better. Everyone deserves the right to feel well and to not be feeling like you have to stay at the expense of your health," Murdock said.

It's not clear when the odor will subside, but the Department of Public Works, the city of Carson and Murdock's team of volunteers will continue their efforts to help residents in need — even if it means filing one claim form at a time.