JEFFERSON CITY — Governor Mike Parson has announced that the state has begun the process of obtaining federal disaster assistance in response to severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began impacting Missouri on July 29.
“Beginning July 29, a severe weather pattern has repeatedly struck Missouri with damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding, causing extensive damage in 26 counties across the state,” Governor Parson said. “The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been working closely with local emergency managers and believes the damage clearly warrants the need for FEMA to participate in joint assessments in preparation for a federal disaster declaration request.”
The state has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in the following counties: Adair, Barton, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Dade, Greene, Grundy, Henry, Jackson, Knox, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, Morgan, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Ste. Genevieve, Scotland, Scott, Taney, and Vernon.
Joint PDA teams are made up of representatives from, FEMA, SEMA, and local emergency managers who document storm damage and estimate recovery costs. Requesting joint PDAs is one of the first steps the state must take in order to request a federal major disaster declaration. Joint PDAs are being requested for FEMA Public Assistance. For Public Assistance, both state and county thresholds must be met in order for a county to be included in the request.
On August 4, an EF-2 tornado in Baring, Missouri, located in Knox County, destroyed or caused major damage to more than 35 residences as well as the town’s post office, fire station, and several other buildings. More than 30 people were displaced from their homes.
That same night, torrential rain in Adair County led to flash flooding and dozens of emergency calls.
Hundreds of thousands of Missourians have lost power over the past month due to strong winds downing trees and utility poles.
The Ste. Genevieve County Commission reported widespread damage in western and southern sections of the county.
While no tornados were reported, intense straight line winds led to a vast area of downed trees blocking roads in an unprecedented series of storms.
Torrential rains created washouts throughout the area with emergency repair operations being conducted from early Thursday morning August 3 to late Saturday afternoon August 5.
The commission noted that with the road and bridge workers on a four-day, 10-hour a day schedule, working on Friday and Saturday amounted to overtime when the employees were normally off from work.
Presiding County Commissioner Randy Ruzicka reported that a crew was working on a culvert installation when the six-inch water depth jumped to eight feet deep in seconds.
He said none of the workers were hurt, but some of their equipment was lost.
The county commission recognized Fischer Quarries for service above and beyond for operating on Saturday, August 5 to allow the road and bridge department to haul badly needed material to the Boyd Road rebuild on that day.