Estimated 150 households will need long term disaster recovery

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than six months after an EF-3 tornado and historic flooding in mid-Missouri, an estimated 150 households will need long term assistance.

The Miller and Cole County Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee, a coalition of not-for-profit organizations, is providing victims and families with disaster case management.

Ann Bax, president of the United Way and member of the committee, said Catholic Charities works with families to find out what costs are covered by insurance and any funds provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Then Catholic Charities brings the case to the committee.

"If the long term recovery committee can help this person or household then that person is made whole again or have a new normal," she said.

The United Way disaster recovery fund received $341,000 in donations that the committee will give to flooding and tornado survivors.

Bax said the committee heard its first case from Catholic Charities and voted to give $8,000 to a disaster survivor for home repairs.

She expects the committee to begin hearing cases at a faster pace but says the overall recovery process is long.

"The process is very thorough and it takes a lot of time," Bax said. "Again, it makes me sad for the disaster survivor because they're living, many of them, not rehoused yet or maybe staying with a relative."

The Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee estimates it will continue working for about two years.