President Donald Trump announced Friday that he approved disaster declaration for multiple counties in Missouri impacted by severe storms in March and early April, according to a news release.
FEMA will provide individual and public assistance for more than a dozen counties hit by storms March 14-15, including Phelps County. Rolla was hit by an EF2 tornado on March 14, which caused widespread damage in the city and hit several school buildings.
The governor’s request for these storms included more than $26.9 million in qualifying expenses already identified, according to a news release.
The president also approved public assistance for 25 counties, including Cooper County, that were hit by severe weather from March 30-April 8. An EF2 tornado struck Pilot Grove on April 2, damaging several structures in the Cooper County town.
The governor’s request for the March 30-April 8 storms included more than $25.5 million in qualifying expenses already identified, according to a news release.
“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 a news release. “The State Emergency Management Agency will be working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency 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.”
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., applauded Trump for approving the request for assistance.
"This is just the beginning of helping communities across out state get back on their feet following devastating storms this season," Schmitt said in a news release.
Kehoe asked the federal government to approve a major disaster declaration for the March 14-15 storms in early April, and he asked for a major disaster declaration for the March 30-April 8 storms at the beginning of this month.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., also acknowledged the president's efforts but called for additional assistance regarding last week's storms in St. Louis.
Hawley and Schmitt toured tornado damage in St. Louis on Monday and urged the president to approve the governor's pending request.
“After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governor’s request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts,” they said.
The additional request for aid after the storms on April 29 is currently under review. The process to request a major disaster declaration for storms on May 16 is still underway.
Assistance available for Rolla
The federal government approved Individual Assistance for the March 14-15 storms, which caused the Rolla tornado.
People who sustained damage or losses due to the March 14-15 severe weather may apply for FEMA disaster assistance online or by calling FEMA’s toll-free application line at 1-800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Individual assistance was approved for Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Wayne, Webster and Wright counties.
Eligible residents in these counties can seek federal assistance with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other expenses, according to a news release from the governor's office.
The deadline for most Individual Assistance programs is 60 days following the president’s Friday major disaster declaration. The governor's office said disaster assistance to eligible individuals generally falls into the following categories:
- Housing assistance may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable.
- Disaster grants are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental, and funeral expenses.
- Low-interest disaster loans are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing, or other damaged personal property. SBA loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury. Businesses can visit sba.gov or call 1-800-569-2955.
- Other disaster aid programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits.
For the March 14-15 storms, the federal government also made the FEMA Public Assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs.
Public assistance is available in the following 20 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne.
Assistance available for Pilot Grove
For the March 30-April 8 storms, the federal government made the FEMA Public Assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs.
Public assistance is available in the following 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.
