Friday, December 15, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Requests Disaster Declaration following Deadly Winter Storm
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt requested a Federal Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for 11 counties and the City of St. Louis as a result of this month’s deadly winter storm.
“For many families and in many jurisdictions the costs of this storm continue to rise as clean-up, debris removal and recovery progress,” Blunt said. “My request ensures our communities have access to the resources they need to forge ahead after the recent deadly weather and extended power outages.”
Blunt is asking for Federal Disaster Public Assistance for Boone, Cole, Dent, Greene, Iron, Moniteau, Reynolds, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis and Washington Counties and the City of St. Louis.
The storm system hit Missouri between November 30 and December 2, leaving 11 Missourians dead and causing power outages to more than 300,000 Missourians. The Joint Damage Assessment Teams identified over $7.5 million of eligible damages in all categories of public assistance. If approved, the request for assistance would reimburse communities for emergency protective services directly related to the disaster response, debris removal and repair of storm damaged public property.
Blunt also asked the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to continue working with local jurisdictions to collect additional damage information for a possible Disaster Declaration request to the Small Business Administration (SBA). An SBA declaration could provide low-interest SBA loans to qualified homeowners, renters and businesses.
Blunt's request for the Presidential Disaster Declaration was submitted today through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VII Office in Kansas City.
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View a copy of the request for Presidential Disaster Declaration here