In the wake of severe storms and tornadoes tearing across Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe stepped in with a means to bring aid to those flung into the tumult of sudden medication loss. Through Executive Order 25-24, signed by Kehoe, Missourians faced with lost or destroyed prescriptions, unavailable medical records, or inaccessible prescribing physicians now have a way to continue receiving essential medications. "To ensure the health and safety of those impacted by these recent devastating storms, we must ensure that Missourians are able to continue receiving prescribed medications in a timely manner," Kehoe stated, emphasizing the state's concern for its residents' immediate health needs. According to the press release by the Governor's Office, the order confers discretionary authority to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the State Board of Pharmacy to waive or suspend certain regulations temporarily.
It was on March 14, that Kehoe declared a State of Emergency, preparing the ground with Executive Order 25-19 for what was to unravel as the skies turned grim with severe weather. After extending declaring a State of Emergency, this Executive Order, primarily focused on medication accessibility due to the storms, is set to expire on June 30, unless extended or otherwise concluded. While this initiative is a stopgap, those affected in Missouri can look up the details of this order, with the governor's office providing a link to the document.
Meanwhile, on the governmental response front, efforts to secure federal aid escalated as Governor Kehoe sought assistance from President Trump for a federal Emergency Declaration. This move aims to hasten FEMA's support and to engage FEMA in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments in affected areas, including St. Louis and its surrounding counties. The press release by the Governor's Office noted that such a declaration does not interfere with the pursuit of a federal Major Disaster Declaration, which can help with a variety of assistance for both individuals and public institutions. Damage assessment teams began their critical evaluations today, with the hope of enabling residents to apply for federal assistance for various recovery needs.
The state's response to the disaster also extends to the deployment of the Missouri National Guard, with a Liaison Officer being directed to assist the City of St. Louis in recovery efforts. They joined the St. Louis Emergency Operations Center aiming to fill local response capability gaps. The State of Missouri's assistance repertoire includes the Missouri State Highway Patrol, an Urban Search and Rescue team, and coordination by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for numerous relief efforts, from mass care to housing and handling of donations. SEMA also supplied tarps and other materials to those with immediate requirements in the aftermath of the storms. Missourians are witnessing a collective push from multiple state agencies and the national guard working to restore peace amidst nature's upheaval.
