President Barack Obama approved a major disaster declaration for 33 Missouri counties, including Texas County, damaged by severe weather and flooding in late December and early January.
Entities reported roads, bridges and other public structures, such as the Houston Wastewater Treatment Plant, sustained more than $2 million in damage.
The declaration issued last Thursday makes assistance programs available to eligible residents for such things as temporary housing and repairs for losses caused by the flooding. Residents are encouraged to document any losses through photos, receipts and other means.
The unusual winter flooding, prompted by three straight days of torrential rains, left 16 people dead and significantly damaged nearly 1,000 homes in eastern and southern Missouri.
Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency on Dec. 27. He asked the president for the disaster declaration Jan. 15.
“This was a significant disaster that did widespread damage, and its impact continues to be felt in communities across the state,” Nixon said in a statement. “This federal declaration will help affected residents and businesses rebuild and recover, and I thank the president for granting our request.”
Counties eligible under the program are Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.
Those seeking assistance can register at www.DisasterAssistance.gov , or call the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
The deadline for most individual assistance programs is 60 days after the disaster declaration.
Disaster aid to eligible individuals generally falls into the following categories:
• Housing Assistance may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable.
• Disaster Grants, which are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental and funeral expenses.
• Low-Interest Disaster Loans are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing or other damaged personal property. Loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury.
• Other disaster aid programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security and veterans’ benefits.
Nixon said assessments are continuing to determine the damage to public infrastructure and flood-related emergency response costs for state and local government agencies and nonprofit agencies.