Federal Assistance From Seven Disaster Declarations Tops $180 Million
Resilient Missourians Recover From Raucous '08
Release Date: March 26, 2009
Release Number: 1822-006
» More Information on Missouri Severe Winter Storm
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Winter storms, ice, flooding, and tornadoes made 2008 a year like few others in Missouri.
Beginning with the December 2007 ice storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated recovery efforts for seven separate disasters that hit the state last year. More than $181 million in disaster assistance was provided to individuals, businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations, and to state and local governments.
“Missourians were particularly hard-hit last year,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Tom Hall, who directed the Missouri recovery efforts from September 2008 through the end of operations. “Nearly every county, at one time in 2008, was part of a presidential disaster declaration.”
Only Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, and Henry counties in the west-central portion of the state were unscathed by disasters in 2008. Most counties had multiple declarations throughout the year.
“It was a year like few others that anyone can recall,” said Hall. “Severe winter storms, ice, flooding, and tornadoes – Missouri saw it all in 2008.”
Federal disaster declarations followed these incidents:
- Severe winter storms, Dec. 6-15, 2007
- Severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, Jan. 7 - 10
- Severe winter storms and flooding, Feb. 10 - 14
- Severe storms and flooding, March 17 – May 9
- Severe storms and tornadoes, May 10 -11
- Severe storms and flooding, June 1 - Aug. 13.
- Severe storms, flooding, and a tornado, Sept. 11- 24.
Disaster declarations define the types of assistance made available by the federal government. Those declarations may be for Individual Assistance (IA) for individuals and households, or Public Assistance (PA) for state and local governments and qualifying private nonprofits. Additionally, there are declarations that include both types of assistance.
Some statistics from the seven 2008 Missouri declarations:
- 12,809 individuals/households registered for individual assistance.
- More than $22.5 million was disbursed to help Missourians with temporary housing and home repairs. Another $4 million was for Other Needs Assistance, which helps fund the repair or replacement of personal property and disaster-related transportation, moving, medical, dental, and funeral expenses.
- More than $98,165 was disbursed for disaster related unemployment claims.
- More than $12.5 million was approved in loans to homeowners through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Another $9.5 million was approved in SBA loans to Missouri businesses.
- In the PA categories, there were 5,202 projects approved for more than $130 million. Under PA guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the cost and the remainder is paid for by the state and local government.
When it is cost effective and technically feasible, additional PA funding is approved through the Hazard Mitigation Program (HMP) to restore infrastructure to a higher standard, making it more disaster resistant.
During the 2008 Missouri disasters, there were 294 HM projects approved, totaling $1.3 million.
Not all Missouri PA projects or HMP project approvals resulting from the 2008 disasters are completed at this time; however, all funding has been obligated.
In addition to coordinating the recovery effort, FEMA employees, local hires and the agency’s subcontractors all contributed to the local economy. Over the course of the year, more than 1,400 persons were employed to assist those affected by disaster.
At the highest point, there were more than 500 employees assisting the recovery efforts that followed the severe storms and flooding that began in March and lasted through mid-May. The number of employees diminishes as the recovery process moves forward.
After the joint FEMA/State field office is closed, disaster records are forwarded to one of the agency’s regional offices. The address for the regional office for Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska is:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO. 64114-3372
Telephone: (816) 283-7063
2008 Missouri Disaster Assistance Totals $180 Million
Seven Declarations Covered 110 of 114 Counties
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Below is a summary of the total and type of assistance provided during 2008 to help Missourians recover from seven federally declared disasters.
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $21,956,805
Other Needs Assistance 3,744,720
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 97,814
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 11,159,400
Business Loans 8,181,600
Total $45,140,339
Public Assistance
Projects 5,202
Total Obligated for PA Projects $134,267,164
Mitigation
Projects 294
Hazard Mitigation Amount $1,329,014
COMBINED TOTAL $180,736,517
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
First Quarter Of ’08 Devastates Public Infrastructure
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Severe winter storms, flooding, and tornadoes in December 2007 and the early months of 2008 devastated roads, bridge, utilities, and other public infrastructure. In all, 69 counties were made eligible for public assistance as a result of disaster declarations in January, February, and March. Below is a summary of the total and types of federal assistance provided for the recovery.
Severe Winter Storm, Dec. 6-15, 2007
FEMA-1736-DR, Missouri
42 Counties in North and Central and Along U.S. Highway 44 in Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 809
Public Assistance Obligated $34,273,701
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, Jan. 7-1, 2008FEMA-1742-DR, Missouri
Nine Counties in Central and Southwest Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 101
Public Assistance Obligated $1,739,155
Severe Winter Storms and Flooding Feb.10-14, 2008
FEMA-1748-DR, Missouri
18 Counties in South and Southeast Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 228
Public Assistance Obligated $13,668,333
Total Projects 1,138
Total OBLIGATED $49,681,189
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms and Flooding, March 17 – May 9
FEMA-1749-DR, Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Near record flooding in the spring of 2008 began with a torrential downpour over a short 48-hour period that began March 17. Rain throughout the following two months continued to soak the heavily-saturated ground and created flood hazards in 71 Missouri counties and the Independent City of St. Louis. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed the presidential disaster declaration.
Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $12,123,699
Other Needs Assistance 1,621,231
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 48,207
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 6,561,000
Business Loans 4,383,200
Total $24,737,337
Public Assistance
Projects 2,088
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $34,736,997
COMBINED TOTAL $59,474,334
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms and Tornadoes, May 10-11, 2008
FEMA-1760-DR, Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Severe storms and tornadoes in early May tore through southwestern Missouri, resulting in 13 deaths and leaving a path of destruction that resulted in a disaster declaration for three counties. Below is a summary of the total and types of federal assistance provided for the recovery.
Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 1,257,061
Other Needs Assistance 350,928
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 8,000
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 368,000
Business Loans 32,200
Total $2,016,189
Severe Storms and Flooding, June 1-Aug.13
FEMA-1773-DR, Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Heavy storms throughout the Midwest during the summer months resulted in the worst flooding in decade, particularly along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed a presidential disaster declaration that included 56 Missouri counties.
Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 4,687,388
Other Needs Assistance 427,547
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 41,607
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 2,859,700
Business Loans 1,659,300
Total $9,675,542
Public Assistance
Projects 1,513
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $35,420,806
COMBINED TOTAL $45,096,348
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado, Sept. 11-24
FEMA-1809-DR, Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The storms, flooding, and a tornado in Sedalia, Pettis County in September resulted in a federal disaster declaration that included 53 Missouri counties and the Independent City of St. Louis. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed the presidential disaster declaration.
ASSISTANCE TOTALS FOR RECOVERY
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 4,546,868
Other Needs Assistance 272,700
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 351
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 2,781,600
Business Loans 3,517,300
Total $11,118,468
Public Assistance
Projects 462
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $10,558,015
COMBINED TOTAL $21,676,483
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Mar-2009 10:46:31