Governor Blunt Announces Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 22 Missouri Counties

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

June 25, 2008

Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290


JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today announced President Bush approved his request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 22 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis as a result of flooding and severe weather along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

"I appreciate the presidents approval of my request for federal assistance to add to the many state agency resources we have dedicated to help local communities fight the flooding," said Gov. Blunt.

Once damage assessments are conducted, Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, Hazard Mitigation grant funding, and low interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration can be requested.

The 22 Missouri counties are: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Cape Girardeau, Clark, Holt, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Ralls, St. Charles, St Louis, Ste Genevieve and Scott Counties and the independent City of St. Louis.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has coordinated delivery of nearly 2 million sandbags, plastic sheeting, and pumps with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for flooded communities along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. SEMA has also been supported by private sector donations and leased equipment such as bobcats, forklifts, light sets, and other equipment for local sandbagging operations.

Examples of direct federal assistance include working with the Corps of Engineers (COE) for sandbags, pumps and technical assistance, the United States Coast Guard, AmeriCorps, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staging resources such as food and water for impacted communities.

The State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate state resources assisting local governments with their emergency protective actions ranging from sandbagging, drinking and waste water issues, security, mass feeding, sheltering operations, monitoring road closures, crisis counseling, and helping locations with their vulnerable populations.