More than $90 million now fueling Missouri recovery as FEMA assistance application period closes

Three application deadlines passed this week, signaling the progression of Missouri’s flooding recovery. The application periods have now closed for both individual homeowners, renters and businesses to apply for federal assistance and for local governments, special districts and nonprofits to apply for federal assistance with infrastructure repairs and emergency response costs. In addition, the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance passed this week.

To date, more than $90 million in payments has flowed into Missouri, helping fuel the recovery. Almost all of that money has gone to Missouri households. Now, as the pace of increase in those numbers slows, federal assistance to public entities – local governments, road, sewer and public water districts, etc. – will grow. The total cost of these public projects is now estimated at more than $78 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Agency will continue to work closely to speed reimbursements as projects move toward completion. 

• In all, more than $90 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 approved more than $12.2 million in grant payments for emergency home repairs, rental assistance, the replacement of essential personal property and other eligible expenses to more than 1,960 households and continues to review late applications. 
• The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $16 million in low-interest disaster loans to 250 homeowners, renters and businesses. 
• The National Flood Insurance Program has made payments totaling more than $62 million to 1,153 Missouri policyholders. An additional 60 claims are being processed. Read about the NFIP program in Missouri here. 
• FEMA has identified 234 eligible applicants for public assistance among Missouri local governments, special districts and nonprofits. Three additional applications are pending.
• FEMA has received claims associated with more than 2,640 damage sites to public infrastructure and emergency response efforts, with a total cost estimate of over $78 million from the eligible public assistance applicants.   
• FEMA has completed more than 200 initial meetings with public sector and nonprofit applicants.

• SEMA continues to work with FEMA and Public Assistance applicants to facilitate recovery projects for local governments, special districts and nonprofit agencies. SEMA processed and assisted with the preparation of more than 230 Requests for Federal Assistance. 
• MoDOT reports damage to roads and bridges at 402 locations due to flooding, many of which were quickly repaired as soon as flood water receded. Twenty major construction projects are underway, including replacing two bridges destroyed in Ozark County. Completion is expected by October. Three more projects could be awarded in September, including work on a major rock and mud slide that has closed Route M in Jefferson County. Currently, there are four roads closed and one road open to one lane of traffic due to pavement damage. MoDOT maintenance crews also continue work on several small projects.   
• The Missouri Department of Economic Development assisted residents, businesses and communities by: coordinating with AmeriCorps to assist flood survivors through local community action agencies; administering a U.S. Department of Labor grant to fund 170 temporary clean-up jobs for unemployed or flood-impacted Missourians; providing 146 households with over $140,000 in disaster relief funds through the Missouri Housing Development Commission; awarding $1.7 million in Community Development Block Grants to communities to fund water system repairs and replacements; and offering SBA paperwork assistance through the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers.
• The Missouri Department of Natural Resources provided technical assistance to drinking water and wastewater facilities, issued storm waivers to address proper debris disposal, inspected regulated dams, and coordinated the location and pick up of orphaned drums and propane tanks. To assist the agricultural community, the department is allowing landowners to request reconstruction and reseeding reimbursement for cost-share soil and water conservation practices on land damaged by flooding and high rains. DNR’s Missouri State Parks assessed and cleaned up 32 state parks and historic sites that were affected by flooding. As of Aug. 18, Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones-Confluence State Park remains closed due to flood damage to roads there.
• The Missouri Department of Revenue implemented automatic taxation deadline extensions; waived motor vehicle and driver licensing fees; and assisted a contracted driver license office vendor relocate its office after it flooded. DOR also developed the “Flood Recovery Information” website to provide Missourian’s with recovery resources. http://dor.mo.gov/flood_recovery_information.php
• The Department of Social Services assisted 1,080 households with applications for Food Stamp, MO HealthNet, Temporary Assistance benefits, or Food Stamp replacement benefits; over 670 households were approved to receive a one-time Disaster Food Stamp benefit; and the USDA approved DSS’ request and extended the Summer EBT food program for children of families in Carter and Ripley counties, with almost 1,400 children receiving an additional $90 summer food benefit.
• The Missouri Department of Conservation reports only seven conservation sites remain closed out of more than 160 that were damaged by flooding. There was over $1 million in damage to conservation areas, river accesses, fish hatcheries and buildings. As soon as flood waters receded, staff started the work of removing debris, filling in scour holes, and repairing and replacing ramps, parking pads, and other structures. MDC is currently prioritizing major repair work. Get updates on access closures and MDC “Places to Go” at nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places.
• The Department of Health and Senior Services purchased and reallocated 2,290 doses of Tdap vaccine; received and tested approximately 2,400 private drinking water collection kits free of charge; responded to 31 Adult Protective Service hotline calls directly related to flooding issues; provided a waiver of vital records fees for individuals whose vital records were lost or destroyed as a result of flooding; and provided sunscreen, insect repellent and mosquito mitigation supplies to responders, volunteers and residents of impacted communities.
• The Missouri Department of Mental Health has utilized a $500,000 Crisis Counseling Program (CCP)/Immediate Services Program (ISP) grant from FEMA to train and deploy over 35 staff from participating Community Mental Health Centers to provide personal outreach, wellness checks and information on local mental health resources. DMH has applied for a $1.8 million CCP/Regular Services Program (RSP) grant that will extend the crisis counseling services to flood survivors for an additional nine months.  
• The Missouri Department of Labor reports that as of Aug. 15, 409 Missourians have filed for unemployment benefits indicating job loss due to flooding. In addition, 35 late unemployment claims were backdated due to flooding, allowing payment of benefits.
• The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) held a flood recovery conference with agriculture organizations to help connect Missouri farmers with information and resources; hosted public information meetings with federal and state agriculture and rural development agencies in Rolla, Hollister and Poplar Bluff; and replaced over 1,400 land surveys damaged by flooding.

• Feb. 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 the FEMA Helpline at 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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