Disaster Assistance Expanded In Five Missouri Counties
Release Date: May 21, 2003
Release Number: 1463-29
» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
Springfield, MO -- Federal disaster assistance has been expanded to include certain costs for repairing or replacing disaster-damaged infrastructure and public facilities in five Missouri counties, officials announced today.
The designation helps governmental entities, public utilities and certain non-profit organizations pay for eligible costs resulting from damages caused by tornadoes, severe storms and flooding since May 4. The counties in which the expanded assistance is available are: Christian, Greene, Pike, Platte, and Scott.
Initially, Christian, Greene and Platte counties were eligible for help in recouping only certain costs associated with debris removal and emergency protective measures. Now these jurisdictions can get help to repair eligible disaster damages to public roads, bridges, buildings and utilities. The federal government reimburses 75 percent of certain associated costs.
Residents of Pike County and Scott County were originally eligible for individual assistance. Now these counties, as well as certain non-profit and private institutions within Pike and Scott counties, are eligible for all categories of Public Assistance (Infrastructure).
Public Assistance is a based on a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state, and local officials. After a disaster declaration, declared counties and certain non-profit and private institutions within those counties are eligible for federal assistance to respond to and recover from the disaster. Eligible private, non-profit institutions include educational, utility, emergency, medical, custodial care and those facilities providing essential service of a governmental nature. Volunteer fire departments, non-profit utilities, water districts, community centers, museums, zoos, and libraries may also be eligible.
To assist public jurisdictions in applying for funding, state and federal officials are conducting informational briefings for interested applicants.
Last Modified: Friday, 23-May-2003 14:40:44