More than $78.5 million flows into Missouri, fueling the recovery of Missouri families

A disaster leaves a trail of devastation, but it can push people to heroic efforts. St. Louis County’s Eureka High School is a case in point. On May 2, floodwater inundated the school’s athletic field and parking lot and was fast encroaching on the school’s three gymnasiums.

Four Rockwood School District employees volunteered to spend the night inside the high school to fight off the rising Meramec River. They utilized pumps and vacuums to protect the most vulnerable target – Gymnasium A. Sandbags nearly surrounded it, but water was finding its way inside and underneath the basketball floor. The four workers pumped water nonstop.

As the Meramec crested, Gymnasium A was compromised by floodwater, but the team’s work had reduced the damage. They then quickly moved to Plan B – saving Gymnasium B. The men's ordeal lasted 22 hours, but their marathon struggle decreased damage to Gymnasium A, and prevented damage to Gymnasiums B and C, both of which had flooded in December 2015.

The Rockwood district expects Gymnasium A to be fully repaired by the first day of school, Aug. 16. That includes repairing damage to an elevator, carpeting, walls and storage areas.

The total damage estimate, including damage to baseball and softball fields, and electronic equipment, is more than $1 million. But because of the Rockwood district’s insurance policy, taxpayers will only pay the $1,000 deductible.

Eureka High School’s story is a microcosm of the response and recovery efforts across Missouri’s flooding zone – heroic efforts to rescue people and protect property. Now as Missourians team up to recover, many are learning the value of flood insurance.

According to FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, through July 20, a total of more than $55.5 million in payments have been made to a total of 1,080 Missouri policyholders. NFIP continues to process more than 130 additional claims. You can read about the NFIP program in Missouri here.

There was more good news for Missouri’s recovery effort this week: more time is now available for flood survivors to apply for assistance. On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Gov. Eric Greitens’ request to extend the deadline for homeowners, renters and businesses to apply for FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration assistance until Aug. 14. The original deadline was Aug. 1. Do not miss your opportunity to apply. Apply for federal assistance 24/7 at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• In all, more than $78.5 million in payments – including FEMA grants, National Flood Insurance Program payments to policyholders and U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans – has now flowed into Missouri, helping fuel the recovery of Missouri families. 
• FEMA has made more than $11 million in grant payments for emergency home repairs, rental assistance, the replacement of essential personal property and other eligible expenses to more than 1,700 disaster survivors. 
• SBA has approved almost $12 million in low-interest disaster loans to more than 190 homeowners, renters and businesses.
• On Wednesday and Thursday SEMA conducted Applicant Briefings in Cape Girardeau, Columbia and Sikeston to assist potential applicants for FEMA assistance with infrastructure repair projects and emergency response expenses. A total of 19 local governments; road, sewer public water districts and other special districts; and nonprofits attended the meetings. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible expenses for public projects. 
• The application deadline for the seven additional counties designated in the Public Assistance disaster declaration on July 13 – Boone, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ste. Genevieve and Scott counties – is Aug. 12. More information is available here.
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available in Christian, Crawford, Dent, Greene, Iron, Ste. Genevieve, Wayne and Wright counties because of FEMA designation of those counties in the disaster declaration. Claimants must file by Aug. 17 by calling their Regional Claims Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., or online at uinteract.labor.mo.gov. Unemployed individuals outside of these counties may still be eligible for benefits under the regular unemployment insurance program and should follow the same filing procedure.       
• The Department of Mental Health was awarded the Crisis Counseling Program (CCP)/Immediate Services Program (ISP) grant from FEMA/SAMHSA. This funding will provide psychological and behavioral health services to Missourians impacted by the flood.  
• Crisis Counseling Training took place July 18-19 in Rolla for the staff at the six Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) participating in the CCP/ISP. There were approximately 35 individuals engaged in the training, including four from FEMA. These counselors will provide personal outreach in their communities for wellness checks as well as provide information on available local resources. 

• August 12: Requests for Public Assistance from governments and nonprofits, in the seven newly designated PA counties, must be received by FEMA, after processing by SEMA.
• August 14: Homeowners, renters and businesses must apply with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration for federal disaster assistance or a low-interest disaster loan.
• August 17: Workers from Christian, Crawford, Dent, Greene, Iron, Ste. Genevieve, Wayne and Wright counties must apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.    
• February 2: Farmers from counties included in the Presidential disaster declaration are eligible for USDA FSA low-interest loans.
• March 2: Small businesses and nonprofit organizations must apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which are available regardless of whether the business sustained property damage.   

Visit Recovery.mo.gov for more flood recovery resources. The site is updated daily.

United Way 211 is the go-to source for 24/7 assistance with unmet flood recovery needs. Call 2-1-1 for assistance or contact 211 online at http://211helps.org. 

Call FEMA’s helpline, 800-621-3362, or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov. You have until Aug. 14 to register. The quicker you register, the quicker you can get FEMA assistance. 

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