FEMA approves 6 additional Missouri counties for assistance
Six additional Missouri counties can now apply for federal assistance after severe storms and flooding hit the area.
Callaway, Jefferson, Lewis, McDonald, Newton and Saline counties were approved late Monday to apply for federal assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The action makes the program available to eligible residents in the newly added counties.
“This is very welcome news for Missouri homeowners and renters who are working hard to recover and rebuild,”Governor Mike Parson said in a news release.
Individuals and families who sustained damage or losses due to the flooding or severe storms from April 29 to July 5 in one of the Missouri counties included in the Individual Assistance disaster declaration can register for disaster assistance by going to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. They can also call FEMA’s toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-3362.
This comes after President Donald Trump approved assistance in 20 Missouri counties, including Andrew, Atchison, Boone, Buchanan, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Greene, Holt, Jackson, Jasper, Lafayette, Lincoln, Livingston, Miller, Osage, Pike, Platte, Pulaski and St. Charles.
As of Tuesday, 1,049 households in these counties have received more than $4,937,000.
Howard and Cooper counties were not included on the expanded list.
Some communities in those counties, such as Old Franklin and New Franklin, saw major impacts from flooding.
Alycia Ewings and her family had to evacuate their home in New Franklin during the flooding. They have since moved back in but have been working to put their home back together from the damage. They have been working a couple of hours each morning before going to work, and around eight hours on their days off.
“Working 40 hours a week and then coming in and trying to get the house remodeled, so we can get back in here it’s been a lot,” she said.
The family had to replace carpets, paint and more. There are still other repairs that need to be made to their kitchen and foundation, but Ewings said they may not get done due to the costs.
“We’ve been using what money we have but it’s getting towards the end of our little nest egg. There’s going to be some things we’re not going to be able to repair, like the foundation, because foundation’s going to cost a lot to repair,” she said.
She said FEMA should have considered helping individuals.
“To me I think FEMA should have came in and helped the individuals that needed the help even though it wasn’t for the whole county,” she said.
She said the assistance will have the biggest impact on people who cannot afford to fix their damaged property.
Representative Vicky Hartzler’s office said it hopes the state appeals its decision, which it will have 30 days to do.
On Tuesday, the State Emergency Management Agency said it was preparing an appeals process.
