Missouri requests federal damage assessments following severe storms

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — Mike Kehoe announced the state has requested federal assistance to assess storm damage across multiple counties following recent severe weather.

Missouri officials have asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to participate in joint preliminary damage assessments in 11 counties after storms between April 23 and April 28 that included tornadoes, large hail, straight-line winds, flooding and severe storms.

State officials said the assessments will help determine whether Missouri qualifies for a federal disaster declaration.

Joint teams are being requested to evaluate damage for potential individual assistance in Clay, Gentry, Greene, Holt, Randolph and Saline counties, where nearly 200 uninsured homes and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. Officials said individual assistance could help residents with housing, repairs and other disaster-related expenses.

The state is also seeking public assistance assessments in Chariton, Greene, Howard, Monroe, Randolph, Ripley and Saline counties. That program helps reimburse local governments and eligible nonprofits for emergency response and recovery costs.

Officials said damage assessments are a key step in the federal disaster declaration process and additional counties could be added as more information becomes available.