Trump approves major disaster declaration for March, April storms
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
President Donald Trump has approved two of Missouri’s major disaster declaration requests for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 14-15 and March 30-April 8, according to a Friday press release from the governor’s office.
“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,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in the release. “The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will be working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to move the federal assistance process forward, which will provide millions of dollars in much needed recovery support for individuals, families, and local jurisdictions. We appreciate the work of our federal congressional delegation in advocating for these requests and future assistance for Missourians.”
Individual assistance is available to eligible residents in 18 counties for the March 14-15 storms, including: Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Wayne, Webster and Wright.
Individual Assistance allows eligible residents to seek federal assistance with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other qualifying expenses, the release says.
The deadline to apply is 60 days after the major disaster declaration by the president and can be applied online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
For the March 14-15 storms, public assistance is available for 20 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne, the release says.
The April 2 request for March 14-15 storms included more than $26.9 million in qualifying expenses already identified, the release says.
For the March 30-April 8 storms, public assistance is available in 25 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Wayne and Webster, the release says.
The April 30 request for March 30-April 8 storms included more than $25.5 million in qualifying expenses already identified, according to the release.
The state is still waiting for declaration approval for the April 29 and May 16 storms.