KC Reporter

Today, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced that President Donald J. Trump has approved two of the state's requests for a major disaster declaration. This decision follows severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that affected Missouri from March 14-15 and March 30-April 8.

Governor Kehoe expressed relief at the approval, stating, “This is important and very welcome news for the Missouri families and communities hit hard by the devastating storms and tornadoes that began in March and have affected so much of our state.” He noted that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will collaborate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expedite federal assistance. The support is expected to provide millions of dollars in recovery aid for individuals, families, and local jurisdictions.

The declaration makes Individual Assistance available to eligible residents in 18 counties impacted by the March 14-15 storms. These counties include Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley St. Louis Wayne Webster Wright counties.

Eligible residents can apply for federal assistance related to temporary housing or repairs through FEMA's website or hotline. They are encouraged to document losses promptly as deadlines for most programs are set at 60 days following the disaster declaration.

The FEMA Public Assistance program will also be available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for infrastructure repair costs incurred during these events. For the March 14-15 storms alone public assistance is extended across twenty counties while an additional twenty-five counties qualify under damages sustained from March 30-April eight storm period.

Requests concerning subsequent weather events remain pending; specifically regarding damage on April twenty-nine where six counties were heavily impacted by eight tornadoes as well as May sixteen which resulted in seven fatalities within St Louis region among other areas southeastwardly across Missouri

Further information about federal disaster declarations can be found online along with resources pertaining specifically towards Missourian recovery efforts via recovery.mo.gov site managed collaboratively between SEMA officials alongside volunteer partners such United Way American Red Cross offering avenues unmet needs continue surfacing throughout ongoing situation