Storm Damaged Regions Declared Federal Disaster Areas

Residents and businesses in 33 Missouri counties that suffered millions of dollars in damages in last week’s ice storm have been declared eligible for federal disaster aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the counties are eligible under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The declaration covers damage to private and public property from the storm, which left several hundred thousand residents without power in the Kansas City area and downed or damaged thousands of trees.