Parson seeks federal disaster assessment for Missouri severe storms, tornadoes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday that he has asked for a federal disaster assessment after severe storms and tornadoes hit the state Friday.
Parson's office said the governor has asked FEMA to work with teams in Dunklin, Pemiscot and Reynolds County in southeast Missouri to catalog the damage. The worst damage happened to electric cooperatives in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties, taking out power to 30,000 members at its peak, according to a release from Parson's office.
Ellington in Reynolds County was hit by an EF-2 tornado. Other tornadoes touched down in Montgomery County (EF-0), Stone County (EF-1), Webster and Wright counties (EF-1) and St. Charles County (EF-3). Team with the National Weather Service are working to determine the strength of a deadly tornado in the Bootheel, as well, the release says.
Deaths were recorded in St. Charles and Pemiscot counties.
The joint assessments are the first step in requesting federal disaster assistance, the governor's office said.
The state is opening two resource centers for storm victims:
- St. Charles County: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- Pemiscot County: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hayti Community Center
