Missouri receives millions in disaster relief after Trump approves aid 

President Donald Trump has approved $24.5 million in federal disaster relief for Missouri following severe weather in June.

Trump’s approval makes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding available to 34 counties across the state, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a press release. The funds will help repair damage caused by flash flooding, tornadoes and high winds from storms between June 4 and June 18.

The two-week storm system produced several tornadoes, including at least 10 that touched down June 10 alone. Kehoe initially requested $32.3 million after Preliminary Damage Assessments conducted by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and FEMA.

“Missourians have shown incredible resilience in the face of repeated severe weather, but the damage from this two-week storm system extended across nearly one-third of the state and has placed a tremendous strain on local communities,” Kehoe said.

Kehoe has also requested $26.5 million in federal disaster relief for severe storms July 9-11 that resulted in historic flash flooding. More than 350 people were rescued from the rising waters, and one person, Faith Gregory, 23, died.

Trump has granted two of Kehoe’s three federal disaster declaration requests this year. The request related to the July flooding remains pending.

“We thank President Trump for approving Missouri’s major disaster declaration for communities across the state – northwest, northeast, central, southwest and southeast Missouri – and greatly appreciate our congressional delegation’s support in securing this federal assistance,” Kehoe said.

The disaster relief funds for the June 4-18 storms will be available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits in the following counties:

• Adair

• Andrew

• Callaway

• Camden

• Cape Girardeau

• Dade

• Daviess

• Gasconade

• Gentry

• Grundy

• Harrison

• Hickory

• Holt

• Jasper

• Knox

• Lewis

• Linn

• Macon

• Marion

• Mercer

• Miller

• Moniteau

• Morgan

• Newton

• Nodaway

• Osage

• Polk

• Putnam

• Scott

• Shelby

• Sullivan

• Vernon

• Webster

• Worth

(Image credit: Stuart McMillian/Heartlander News)