The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Governor Nixon’s request to declare a federal major disaster for 18 Missouri counties hit by tornadoes.
Nixon declared a state of emergency following the February 29 storms that caused three deaths, numerous injuries and widespread destruction. He says a federal major disaster declaration would have made additional assistance available to Missourians as they recover.
“I went to southern Missouri and saw the serious property damage to homes and businesses, and the places where Missourians lost their lives,” he says. “While this decision is disappointing, we’ll continue at the state level to provide the critical resources, assets and personnel that are necessary to help these affected communities recover and rebuild.”
Nixon’s request was for the following counties: Adair, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Cedar, Dallas, Daviess, Laclede, Linn, Madison, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, Stoddard, Stone and Taney.