Gov. Mike Kehoe said Sunday night that tornadoes that swept Friday night in Missouri affected 27 counties.
The storm has resulted in 12 confirmed fatalities, with one person still missing. Hundreds of homes, schools and businesses have been either destroyed or severely damaged. At the height of the storm, more than 140,000 homes and businesses were without power, and 101 roads were closed due to debris, flooding and structural damage.
While significant progress has been made, approximately 47,000 customers remain without power as crews continue restoration efforts. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also had reports of more than 130 wildland fires on Friday, some of which damaged homes and structures.
“The scale of devastation across our state is staggering,” said Kehoe said. “While we grieve the lives of those lost, we are also focused on action — getting power restored, clearing debris and ensuring our communities have the resources they need to recover. The strength and resilience of Missourians are already on display, and we will be with them every step of the way.”
What’s happening now:
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS AND FEDERAL SUPPORT: SEMA regional coordinators continue working with local emergency managers to make initial damage assessments in preparation for a federal major disaster declaration request. To expedite the process, SEMA has shifted additional regional coordinators into the most heavily impacted areas of the state. SEMA staff are coordinating resource requests from local emergency managers for needed supplies, materials and support services with sheltering, debris clearance, damage assessments, and other needs.
WHITE HOUSE COORDINATION: Kehoe has been in direct contact with the White House and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, who have assured him they are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to assist as soon as Missouri request is submitted.
Kehoe and state officials spent the weekend surveying some of the hardest-hit areas, including Wayne, Butler and Jefferson counties. Wayne County alone saw six of the 12 reported fatalities, underscoring the storm’s devastating impact. Bakersfield south of West Plains had three deaths.
