Thursday, March 1, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Seeks Federal Assistance for Individuals and Businesses Still Suffering from Winter’s Fury
“Missourians have suffered merciless blows from Mother Nature this winter,” Blunt said. “I am grateful for the assistance we have received from the federal government in the past and hope that President Bush quickly approves my request for Individual Assistance so that funds can be made available to Missourians still dealing with the devastating impact of these winter storms.”
Blunt is requesting a Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for the following 28 counties: Barry, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cedar, Christian, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Gasconade, Greene, Henry, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Newton, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, St. Clair, Stone, Texas, Webster, and Wright.
The request is based on reports from preliminary damage assessments collected by five joint federal, state, and local teams that worked to identify uninsured storm related damages. 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.
The severe winter weather systems caused power outages to more than 320,000 electric customers statewide, and directly resulted in 15-weather related deaths. More than 42,660 citizens sought relief at one of the 129 general shelters, or eight special needs shelters. Local communities established more than 29 warming centers statewide.
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