Gov. Mike Kehoe is asking Washington for help after a brutal late‑April stretch of storms and tornadoes ripped across Missouri, battering homes and public infrastructure and leaving hundreds of families in the lurch. State officials say the outbreak damaged hundreds of homes and public facilities, with more than 140 households facing losses that insurance will not cover and an estimated $36 million price tag for public infrastructure and emergency response. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency signs off on a request for a federal disaster declaration, Individual and Public Assistance could bring in money for housing repairs, emergency work and reimbursements to local governments.
What Kehoe requested
According to a press release from Governor Mike Kehoe's office, the governor is asking FEMA to make Individual Assistance available in Clay, Gentry, Greene, Holt, Randolph and Saline counties. He is also seeking Public Assistance for Chariton, Greene, Howard, Monroe, Randolph, Ripley and Saline counties. “Initial damage reports have shown a clear need for a formal review by FEMA,” Kehoe said in the release.
The request follows joint Preliminary Damage Assessments the state ordered to review storm damage from April 23 through April 28. Those assessments reported that nearly 200 uninsured homes and businesses were either destroyed or suffered major damage, a tally that state leaders say underscores the need for federal help.
Damage estimates and who’s affected
As reported by ABC17, the state’s filing pegs damage to public infrastructure and emergency response costs at more than $36 million. The outlet also noted that more than 140 households were verified to have storm damage that insurance does not cover, and that more than half of those homes are renter‑occupied, a detail that highlights just how vulnerable many residents are in the hardest‑hit communities.
Local officials say assessments and site visits are still underway as teams follow up on reports from residents and local governments. The numbers are not final, but they will help determine whether counties meet the federal thresholds for aid.
What the programs cover and next steps
If FEMA approves a Major Disaster Declaration, Individual Assistance can provide temporary housing, home repairs and replacement of personal property that was damaged in the storms, according to the state. Public Assistance is designed to reimburse local governments and eligible nonprofits for emergency work and repairs to infrastructure.
Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment teams, which include local emergency managers along with staff from SEMA, FEMA and the SBA, are documenting damage to see which counties qualify under federal rules. Once that documentation is complete, the governor’s office will send the full package to FEMA, which then forwards its recommendation to the President for a final decision on a federal declaration.
What residents should do
State and local officials are urging residents with storm‑related damage to report their losses to their county emergency management office so those numbers are counted in the assessments. They are also directing survivors to recovery.mo.gov for information on cleanup help, housing options and mental‑health resources.
Local emergency managers will share details about how to apply for assistance and whether disaster recovery centers will open if a federal disaster declaration is approved. State leaders say they will keep working with FEMA and local partners as the documentation continues and more information is collected.
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