Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Requests Assessment Reports Following Devastating Rain, Floods
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today sent a letter to Tim Kelley, the State Executive Director for the Missouri Farm Service Agency, requesting damage assessment reports for 14 Missouri counties faced with agricultural loss due to severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and related flooding over the weekend. The damage reports are the first step to determine if the counties qualify to be declared natural disaster areas.
“Despite facing drought conditions in several counties, areas of our state are now struggling with the aftermath of too much rain, too fast,” Blunt said. “My heart goes out to our farmers, especially those who were already seeing effects from the drought, and those, like so many cotton farmers, who suffered huge losses right before harvest.”
More than a foot of rain pummeled Southeast Missouri counties this weekend, destroying an estimated 25 to 50 percent of the cotton crop in some areas and leading to widespread ground saturation and flooding. In some areas corn and soybean crops were also affected.
Based on a review of United States Department of Agriculture Flash Situation Reports, Blunt requested damage assessments in Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Scott, Ripley, and Stoddard Counties.
Blunt requested the assessments to ensure Missouri’s farm families have access to federal assistance to help with income loss associated with the weekend’s severe thunderstorms.
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