KC Reporter

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri has requested two federal disaster declarations following severe storms that caused significant damage in eight counties in southwest Missouri this spring. The requests include a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Greene, Lawrence, and Newton counties due to storms on April 29, and a federal Major Disaster Declaration for Dade, Douglas, Ozark, Vernon, and Webster counties from storms occurring over Memorial Day weekend.

Governor Kehoe stated: “The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local partners worked in close coordination with FEMA and the Small Business Administration and once again documented large amounts of costly damage and response expenditures that meet thresholds for federal assistance to these impacted areas.” He further added that the state is seeking federal aid "to rebuild damaged infrastructure in five counties and low interest loans to support homeowners, renters, and businesses in the three counties hardest by the April 29 storms."

Joint preliminary damage assessments by the SBA, SEMA, and local officials identified at least 80 homes and five businesses in Greene, Lawrence, and Newton counties as having sustained major damage with uninsured losses exceeding 40% from the April 29 storms. This qualifies them for low-interest disaster loans through an SBA Disaster Declaration.

Previously on June 9, President Donald Trump approved a federal Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to repair public infrastructure damaged during the April 29 storms affecting Greene, Lawrence, and Newton counties.

Additionally, joint assessments by FEMA estimated more than $18 million in emergency response costs and infrastructure damage in Dade, Douglas, Ozark, Vernon, and Webster counties from the May 23-26 storms. The sought-after federal Major Disaster Declaration would enable access to FEMA's Public Assistance program for repairing roads, bridges, other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs.

Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact United Way or the American Red Cross. More information about disaster recovery can be found at recovery.mo.gov.

Governor Kehoe's requests follow previous approvals of Major Disaster Declarations for other storm events earlier this year.