Governor Mike Kehoe

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*May 23, 2025*

*President Trump Approves Governor Kehoe's Requests for Major Disaster Declaration to Assist Missourians Impacted by March 14-15 and March 30-April 8 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding*

*JEFFERSON CITY, MO *– Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that *President Donald J. Trump* has approved two of Missouri's requests for a major disaster declaration in response to the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that impacted the state from *March 14-15* and *March 30-April 8*.

The additional request for *April 29* storms is still under review, and the process [ [link removed] ] to request a major disaster declaration for *May 16* storms is still underway. 

“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,” *Governor Kehoe* said. “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:*

The President's action makes *Individual Assistance* available to eligible residents in 18 counties impacted by 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* counties.

Individual Assistance allows eligible residents to seek federal assistance with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses. 

Individuals who sustained damage or losses due to the *March 14-15* severe weather may now apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov [ [link removed] ] 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. They can also download the FEMA app to apply. Affected individuals are encouraged to document losses, photograph damage, and retain receipts. The faster Missourians register with FEMA, the faster they may be able to receive assistance.

The deadline for most Individual Assistance programs is 60 days following the President’s major disaster declaration. 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.

Apply for Disaster Assistance

*Public Assistance:*

The President's action also makes 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.

For the *March 14-15* storms, 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*.

The Governor’s *April 2* request for March 14-15 storms included more than *$26.9 million* in qualifying expenses already identified.

For the *March 30-April 8* storms, 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*.

The Governor’s *April 30* request for March 30-April 8 storms included more than *$25.5 million* in qualifying expenses already identified.

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For more information on the federal disaster declaration process, visit this link [ [link removed] ]. 

For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, please visit recovery.mo.gov. [ [link removed] ]

SEMA continues to coordinate with local officials and volunteer and faith-based partners to identify needs and assist impacted families and individuals. Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact *United Way* by dialing 2-1-1 or www.211helps.org [ [link removed] ] or the *American Red* *Cross* at 1-800-733-2767.


* FEMA APPLY FOR IA GRAPHIC.jpg [ [link removed] ]

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The following outlines the *current status* of Governor Kehoe's additional federal assistance requests:

*April 29 Storms*

*Status: *"Awaiting Federal Disaster Declaration approval [ [link removed] ]"

*Details: *On May 19, Governor Kehoe requested that President Donald Trump approve a major disaster declaration to provide federal assistance to six counties that sustained major damage as a result of a cluster of severe storms that swept through the area and produced eight tornadoes on April 29.

 

*May 16 Storms*

*Status: *"Awaiting Federal Emergency Declaration approval  [ [link removed] ]"

"Preliminary Damage Assessments for Individual Assistance have now been completed in the St. Louis region, and are ongoing in counties in southeast Missouri. The State anticipates requesting Preliminary Damage Assessments of damage to roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure in St. Louis City and Scott County in the near future"" in preparation for a request by the Governor for a federal Major Disaster Declaration for these areas."

*Details: *On May 19, Governor Kehoe made these requests to expedite federal assistance to Missouri following the severe storms and tornadoes that struck the state on May 16, causing seven deaths and widespread damage in the St. Louis region and areas of southeast Missouri

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*Contact: Gabby Picard*

Communications Director

Mobile: 573-536-6566

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.governor.mo.gov


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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Governor Mike Kehoe · PO Box 720 · Jefferson City, MO 65102 · (573) 751-3222 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]