Governor Blunt Announces Joint Damage Assessment Teams for June Flooding

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

June 26, 2008

Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290


JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt announced today six joint federal and state damage assessment teams will begin collecting flood damage information in the upper Northwest and upper Northeast counties impacted by the current June flooding.

"Many areas are still flooded and conducting flood fighting operations. Four teams will rapidly gather damage information from local officials on their emergency protective measures. Initially, two teams will focus on the personal flood related losses and economic losses to Missouri businesses," Gov. Blunt said. "We want to get the initial damage estimates tabulated by this weekend so that we can ask FEMA for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Declarations for our citizens and counties. Additionally, damage assessments will be conducted in other impacted counties in the following days and weeks."

The two Individual Assistance and three Public Assistance joint assistance damage teams will visit the following Northeast Missouri counties of Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis and the City of St. Louis. One Public Assistance team will visit the following Northwest Missouri Counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and Platte Counties.

The joint damage assessment teams are comprised of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and local emergency management director or other local government official. The teams will canvas areas with local officials verifying damages to support Gov. Blunts request for Federal Disaster Assistance for Individual Assistance for Citizens and Businesses, and for Public Assistance for Category B which is emergency protective actions including lifesaving operations, sandbagging, sheltering, emergency food and water.

Later, the Public Assistance teams will begin collecting information associated with damages to public property, critical infrastructure, and debris removal to support Blunts request to expand the Federal Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to all categories.