SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – Gov. Mike Kehoe requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri to provide federal assistance to a total of 12 counties in response to tornadoes, straight-line winds, severe storms, large hail, and flooding that swept across the state April 23 through April 28.
“Last week, local, state and federal assessment teams documented the high level of destruction and significant response costs that were a result of this severe weather system, which included at least eight confirmed tornadoes and softball-sized hail in some areas,” Kehoe said. “The damage in Greene County alone surpassed the total state threshold to qualify for federal disaster assistance. When the damage in all the other counties is included, the total is triple Missouri’s damage threshold, and beyond the capacity of these hard hit communities to meet without federal assistance.”
Individual assistance requested
Kehoe is requesting FEMA Individual Assistance in Clay, Gentry, Greene, Holt, Randolph and Saline counties after more than 140 households were verified as having sustained uninsured damage. Over half of the impacted individuals are renters.
If approved, Individual Assistance would allow eligible residents to seek federal assistance for temporary housing, housing repairs and replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other qualifying expenses.
Public assistance requested
Kehoe is also requesting FEMA Public Assistance for Carroll, Chariton, Greene, Holt, Howard, Monroe, Randolph, Ripley, Saline and St. Francois counties. If approved, local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies may seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement costs for damaged buildings, bridges, roads and other public infrastructure.
Record hail in Springfield
A hailstone in Springfield on April 28 was confirmed to be 4.75 inches in diameter — the diameter of a CD — and the largest hail on record in Springfield or Greene County…