ST. LOUIS — Gov. Jay Nixon announced Wednesday afternoon that he has requested major disaster declaration — or monetary aid — from the federal government following the storms, flooding and multiple tornadoes that struck Missouri earlier this summer.
“Missourians have been hit with high repair costs as they work to recover, local communities and state agencies have been burdened with excessive response costs, and expenses for repairing destroyed infrastructure will be very high,” Nixon said in his announcement.
There are 30 counties that Nixon requested federal aid for to cover public assistance that was required after the storms, covering emergency response among other costs. Nixon also requested extra funds for seven of those 30 counties to help individuals with losses that weren’t covered by insurance.
St. Charles County, which was hit by an EF-3 tornado May 31 (photos), has incurred an estimated $2 million in costs for community response and damages to County facilities, according to Colene McEntee, County Public Affairs Coordinator.
Rep. Kathie Conway, R-St. Charles — whose district was hit the hardest with three houses completely flattened and severe damage to an innumerable amount of other homes — said the calls she has received from constituents about tornado-related issues have subsided during the last two weeks as the area has worked toward rebuilding. Most of the calls or questions Conway said she’s received since the storm have been about responsiveness on insurance issues.
“Things are getting done and looking much better,” Conway said. “People have been amazing and so helpful to each other. I’m not seeing brush as much when I drive through neighborhoods, but still some tarps on roofs.”
The day after the storm, Conway toured the damaged area off of Dingledine Road and Greenboro Drive with Nixon and a few other local politicos. That area, Conway said, was monitored by deputies for about a week after the storm while the area was being picked up.
“While those officers were there, someone else had to take that spot on the road,” Conway said, emphasizing the extra costs the county has faced. She said brush pick up through the County and the additional help that was contracted out would also be part of what’s estimated to be about $2 million in costs.
“But you know, you almost can’t tell what happened here just a few weeks ago,” she said. “It really has gotten a lot better, and fast.”
Ashley Jost is no longer with The Missouri Times. She worked as the executive editor for several months, and a reporter before that.
