Kehoe asks FEMA to join preliminary damage assessment

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state of Missouri has requested that FEMA participate in joint preliminary damage assessments after storms devastated a number of counties on Friday night, according to a Monday press release from the governor’s office.

The request is the start of the process of getting federal assistance, the release says.

"As I observed during my visit to impacted areas this weekend, these storms and tornadoes caused widespread, devastating destruction and disrupted the lives of families and business across the Missouri," Gov. Mike Kehoe said in the release. "The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been working closely with local emergency management officials, and we are confident the damage meets the threshold for FEMA to participate in joint damage assessments." 

Requests were made for 23 counties, including: Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Laclede, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Stoddard, Wayne, Webster and Wright. 

The release says that initial assessments estimate that 368 houses were destroyed, 365 had major damage and 1,058 had minor damage following the tornadoes.

Joint PDA teams are made up of representatives from FEMA, SEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management officials, the release says

The release says that on Thursday, six teams will survey and verify damage to determine if Individual Assistance can be requested through FEMA.