Gov. Nixon Requests Expansion of Federal Disaster Declaration for Historic Flooding to Include Missouri Communities' Response and Recovery Expenses
Press Release
Gov. Jay Nixon today requested an expansion of the federal major disaster declaration to include assistance for public agencies and nonprofits in 39 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis for the cost of responding to and recovering from the historic flooding that affected the state from late December to early January. The storms led to 16 confirmed deaths, destroyed or significantly damaged almost 1,000 homes, and led to hundreds of road and bridge closures.
"Over a period of more than two weeks, emergency responders in Missouri worked tirelessly to respond to severe weather and flooding," Gov. Nixon said. "In addition to flooding homes and businesses, this disaster also inflicted significant and widespread damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. The expanded federal disaster declaration I'm requesting will help affected communities -- from the Oklahoma border to the Mississippi River -- quickly rebuild and recover."
The Governor's request for federal public assistance was for the following counties: Barry, Bollinger, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cedar, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, St. Charles, St. Clair, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, Scott, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Webster and the City of St. Louis.
Public assistance allows local and state government, as well as eligible nonprofit agencies, to seek assistance for response and recovery expenses associated with severe weather and flooding. Damage assessment teams identified an estimated $41 million in costs for infrastructure damages and costs of responding to the disaster.
On Jan. 21, President Barack Obama granted Gov. Nixon's request for a major disaster declaration to assist residents affected by the flooding. That declaration made available the Individual Assistance program to help eligible residents with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other expenses as a result of flooding, as well as disaster-related unemployment assistance in 33 Missouri counties: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.
Gov. Nixon declared a state of emergency in Missouri on Dec. 27, as heavy rain, flooding and flash flooding impacted the state. The Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan also was activated, allowing state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to provide emergency services.
On Jan. 2, the President approved Gov. Nixon's request for a federal emergency declaration to speed debris removal and relieve the strain of response and recovery costs in the St. Louis region. As a result of that declaration, Gov. Nixon announced Operation Recovery, a federal and state debris removal program being coordinated by the Missouri National Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Debris removal has been underway in Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.
Individuals who sustained damage or losses due to the flooding between Dec. 23, 2015 and Jan. 9, 2016 in one of the 33 Missouri counties included in the existing disaster declaration may register for disaster aid online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The Governor said the quicker that Missourians register with FEMA, the more quickly they may be able to receive assistance. The deadline for applying for most individual assistance programs is March 21, 2016.
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