Information and Notes for EMDs and Local Officials

For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2003

CONTACT:
State of Missouri
Emergency Management Agency

Due to the Severe Weather Disasters of May 2003
The Following Information Has Been Released

Information and Notes for EMDs and Local Officials

Area Coordinator Quarterly Meetings Canceled
Due to the Disaster Declaration for the May tornadoes, the Area Coordinators have been working closely with Local Officials on damage assessments and recovery issues, as well as working in the Disaster Recovery Centers with citizens who are seeking help.
The following Area Coordinator Quarterly meetings have been canceled: Area C on May 28, Area E on May 23, Area F on May 14, Area G on June 4, Area H on May 20, and Area I on June 5. Meetings will be rescheduled for the next quarter.

68 Missouri Counties Receive Federal Help for Tornado Damages
As of May 16, FEMA has approved 68 Missouri Counties for Federal Assistance from the May tornadoes. Devastating tornadoes swept across Western and Southwestern Missouri on May 4, 2003. The hardest hit communities were Gladstone (Kansas City area), and the Southwest Missouri communities of Stockton, Pierce City and Carl Junction. On May 6, President Bush declared 39 Missouri Counties eligible for Individual Assistance and 14 of those counties eligible for Public Assistance (Debris Removal and Emergency Services). On May 7th another series of tornadoes hit Eastern and Southeastern Missouri causing damages to the communities of DeSoto and Jackson. On May 9, 11 Missouri counties were added to the disaster declaration with two of those counties designated for Public Assistance. Over Mother's Day weekend, storms hit central Missouri and 18 counties were added to the declaration. These counties were added to the disaster declaration on May 16.

There are 68 counties declared for Individual Assistance. Those counties are: Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cass, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Knox, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Scott, Shelby, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Vernon, Washington, and Webster.

Individual Assistance is designed to help families and businesses recover from the tornado disaster with programs such as disaster housing, individuals & household assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, and small business administration assistance. Additionally, two counties, Howard and Lewis, have been approved for Public Assistance

Eighteen Counties have been declared for PA. They are: Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Dallas, Greene, Howard, Lewis, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson Johnson, Lawrence, Platte, and Polk.

Disaster Recovery Center for Victims
There are 11 Disaster Recovery Centers opened to help citizens who suffered damages from the May Tornados. Many of the Disaster Recovery Centers have telephones for citizens to call the FEMA toll free registration number to get the application process started - that number is 1-800-FEMA. If a citizen has already registered with the 800 number, they can go to the Disaster Recovery Center for more personalized assistance.

The Disaster Recovery Centers are located at:

• Antioch Mall, Northland Neighborhood, 5312 N. E. Chouteau Trafficway, Kansas City.
  
• St. Mary's Catholic Church, 200 Front Street, Pierce City.
  
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, South Highway 39, Stockton.
  
• First Baptist Church, 5010 South FF Highway, Battlefield.
  
• Old First National Bank, 108 S. Hickory, Mt. Vernon.
  
• Christian Church, 103 Hodge Street, Carl Junction.
  
• OPENING May 20: Old Library Building, #4 Camden Court, Camdenton.
  
• OPENING May 20: National Guard Armory, 224 W. Park, Jackson.
  
• OPENING May 21: United Methodist Church, 601 Washington St., Canton.
  
• OPEN: May21-24: Citizen's Memorial Hospital Support Srv. Bldg., 1561 N. Oakland Ave., Bolivar.
  
• OPENING May 21: Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1620 Boyd Street. DeSoto.

DNR Post Disaster Fact Sheets to Web
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) updated their Web site with disaster fact sheets and other news. The address is www.dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm - this is a link from our homepage called "Natural Resource Disasters."

Mental Health Crisis Counseling Grant
The Department of Mental Health has submitted a Crisis Counseling Grant to help the May tornado victims. When the grant is approved, they will issue a press release informing citizens about the locations where services will be available.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announces that individuals who are unemployed due to the recent severe spring storms and tornados may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance. Individuals who need to file a claim should call (800) 788-4002 as soon as possible.

The deadline for individuals in the original 39 counties to call is June 6. Those counties are: Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Henry, Hickory, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Miller, Morgan, Newton, Pettis, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Ray, Saline, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Vernon and Webster counties.

On May 10, 11 counties were added to the disaster declaration. The deadline for individuals in the add on counties to call is June 11. Those counties are: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Franklin, Jefferson, Perry, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, Scott, Stoddard, and Washington.
On May 16, 18 counties were added to the disaster declaration. The deadline for individuals in the latest add on counties to call is June 19. Those counties are: Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Howard, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Moniteau, Montgomery, Osage, Pike, Ralls, Randolph and Shelby counties.

Lost and Found Mail
As a result of the severe storms and tornadoes, there have been reports of people finding U. S. mail miles from its intended location. If you find this type of mail, you are encouraged to return it to the nearest U. S. Post Office or mailbox.

John Hummel named Area I Coordinator
John Hummel, Planner II, joined SEMA on May 16 as the new Area I Coordinator. Hummel comes to SEMA from A. G. Edwards Company. He assumes the duties formerly managed by Brenda Heidbreder. Brenda is the Senior Planner and will now manage the Planning section and work with the nine Area Coordinators. This section is part of the Planning & Disaster Recovery Branch in SEMA.

159 Jurisdictions Will See Revised/Updated LEOPs
SEMA is pleased to announce that all 159 jurisdictions (al1 114 counties, the City of St. Louis and all cities over 10,000) will participate in the revision/update of LEOPs with emphasis on terrorism and WMD. The Louis Berger Group was awarded the contract by the State of Missouri. The updates to all LEOPs must be completed by December 31, 2003. Each community was notified of the amount of the funds they would receive.

Telephone Numbers Established to Assist Missouri Tornado Victims
SEMA's Statewide Volunteer Coordinator, Dante Gliniecki, and the Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster set up 3 different locations for citizens wishing to donate items or services to help Missouri tornado victims. Call one of the following three areas BEFORE SENDING DONATIONS. Anyone wishing to donate time is encouraged to volunteer as a part of a previously organized group and should call the center prior to the date they wish to volunteer.

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI (12 Counties)
Call the South West Missouri Donations Center at 1-800-489-8183 seven days a week between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WESTERN MISSOURI (Kansas City Area)
Call the Help Line (Salvation Army) at (816) 221-1525, Monday - Friday between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

EASTERN MISSOURI (St. Louis, Cape, Hannibal, etc)
Call the Salvation Army at (314) 771-7366 Monday - Friday between 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Missouri Legislative Mutual Aid Update
In the closing days of the session, the Missouri Legislature approved House Bill 307 on Mutual Aid The original language of the law stated the Governor must approve Mutual Aid Agreement between Missouri jurisdictions. The bill deleted the part about the Governor's approval before mutual aid can be enacted.

***

[Go Back To Where You Where]