The Federal Emergency Management Agency told St. Louis it will not pay for most building demolitions the city wanted covered.
In a February letter obtained by St. Louis Public Radio, the federal agency said it would not reimburse the city for demolishing several kinds of buildings that are common in the tornado’s path, including vacant properties condemned before the tornado and properties where the owner also owns other properties.
“If we look at the total amount of damaged properties that are likely needing demolition, we estimate that maybe 20% of it will be eligible under the interpretations of this letter,” St. Louis Chief Recovery Officer Julian Nicks told STLPR…