Missouri – Missouri’s latest round of storm recovery is moving from local damage reports to a more formal review, as state and federal teams prepare to examine the public cost of a severe weather system that began June 4 and spread destruction across several parts of the state.
On Thursday, Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that the State Emergency Management Agency, known as SEMA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, will join local officials in conducting joint Preliminary Damage Assessments in 29 counties. The assessments will focus on public infrastructure damaged by dangerous weather, including roads, bridges and other community systems that local governments depend on every day.
“For the last two weeks, local emergency management teams across Missouri have responded to dangerous flash flooding, several tornadoes, and intense straight-line winds resulting in serious destruction to their communities,” Governor Kehoe said.
“Upon initial assessment, our local partners and SEMA believe the emergency response costs and damage to roads, bridges, and other important public infrastructure meet the levels required for a federal disaster declaration for FEMA Public Assistance and warrant a formal review by FEMA.”
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The counties currently included in the request are Adair, Andrew, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Dade, Gasconade, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Jasper, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Polk, Putman, Scott, Shelby, Sullivan, Vernon, Webster and Worth.
That list may still grow. State officials said additional counties could be added as local emergency managers continue documenting damage from the storms.
The joint assessment process is expected to begin Tuesday, June 23. Five teams made up of FEMA, SEMA and local emergency management representatives will review and verify damage already documented by local officials. Their findings will help determine whether Missouri can request FEMA Public Assistance for the affected counties.
That assistance is different from aid given directly to individual residents. FEMA Public Assistance is designed to help local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies recover eligible costs tied to emergency response and rebuilding. That can include reimbursement for storm-related response work, as well as repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and other essential facilities.
Before a county can be included in a request, both state and county damage thresholds must be met.
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The June storm review comes while Missouri is still waiting on FEMA action tied to an earlier severe weather event. On May 22, Kehoe requested approval of a major disaster declaration for storms that struck from April 23 through April 28 and affected 12 Missouri counties. That request remains pending.
Residents who still have unmet needs after the storms are encouraged to contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1. Missourians who suffered storm-related damage to a home, vehicle or other property should contact their insurance company and file a claim as soon as possible.
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Additional disaster recovery information, including cleanup guidance, housing assistance and mental health resources, is available at recovery.mo.gov.
