WASHINGTON – Senator Eric Schmitt led Missouri’s congressional delegation in a letter of support of Governor Mike Parson’s request for a federal emergency disaster declaration. The declaration, which covers 33 Missouri counties, is in response to severe weather that began impacting Missouri in late July:
The letter states, “On August 4, an EF-2 tornado 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. On August 14, homes, roads, and campgrounds in Bollinger County were hit by major flooding. Approximately six to eight inches of rain fell in a short amount of time throughout Bollinger County. The rising floodwaters required both state and local law enforcement to activate rescue teams.”
The letter continues, “Overall, hundreds of thousands of Missourians have lost power over the past month due to strong winds downing trees and utility poles. State and local governments continue to be burdened by the costs that have been incurred to protect our constituents and their towns.”
The letter concludes, “We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. We appreciate your attention to this request, and we stand ready to assist our constituents in any way possible.”
Senator Josh Hawley, Representative Jason Smith, Representative Mark Alford, Representative Ann Wagner, Representative Eric Burlison, Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, Representative Sam Graves, Representative Cori Bush, and Representative Emanuel Cleaver signed on to the letter of support.