Eight joint federal and state damage assessment teams are on the ground Tuesday as they begin collecting property damage information for citizens and businesses impacted by severe flooding that has so many regions of the state.

Susie Stonner with the State Emergency Management Agency says 41 counties are currently i the mix, but that number could rise as additional information becomes available. In addition to SEMA, the assessment teams are made up of officials from FEMA – Federal Emergency Management , the Small Business Administration , and local governments.

Stonner says it is important for citizens and businesses affected by the flooding to inform local emergency authorities as soon as possible so those authorities can relay that information to FEMA, which will eventually decide on federal assistance that will be coming to Missouri as a result of the flooding.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)