Obama grants federal emergency declaration request for Missouri

President Obama granted Gov. Jay Nixon’s request for a federal emergency declaration Saturday.

The Governor made the request in the wake of severe flooding in the St. Louis area.

Nixon’s office said in a release Saturday he has asked for the declaration to help speed the removal of flood debris and help in recovery costs for the St. Louis area, which was hit by historic flooding along the Mississippi and Meramec rivers this week.

Nixon says he’ll ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help collect and dispose of the debris. Nixon made the announcement in Eureka at a drop-off point where flood debris and refuse havebeen piling up.

If the emergency declaration is approved, the Missouri National Guard will manage the program.