Friday, May 25, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Seeks Federal Assistance to Help Missourians Recover from Spring Flooding
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today asked President Bush to approve a Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for 17 Missouri counties and a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for 19 Missouri counties as a result of the flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries between May 5-12.
"Missourians have suffered from the spring flooding, and we are doing everything we can to help," Blunt said. "I am grateful for the assistance we have received from the federal government in the past and hope that the President quickly approves my request for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance so that funds can be made available to citizens, businesses, and local jurisdictions to begin recovering from the recent round of flooding."
Blunt is requesting a Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for the following 17 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Davies, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Jackson, Lafayette, Livingston, Morgan, Nodaway, Osage, and Platte.
The request for a Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is based on reports from preliminary damage assessments collected by four joint federal, state and local teams. The teams identified uninsured storm related damages to 558 primary residences and 72 businesses. If the president approves Blunt’s request, Individual Assistance will provide disaster grants or low-interest loans to families, individuals and businesses to help recover uninsured personal property and business losses.
Blunt is requesting a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for the following 19 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Ray, Saline and Worth. As damage information continues to become available, he will request additional counties.
The request for a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance is based on reports from preliminary damage assessments collected by five joint federal, state and local teams. The teams identified over $29 million in damages to public infrastructure in 19 counties. The teams are continuing to collect damage information from additional counties through next week. If the president approves Blunt's request, Public Assistance will reimburse jurisdictions for their eligible emergency protective actions, repairs, or replacement of damaged infrastructure, and debris clearance.
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