Disaster declaration for Missouri counties damaged in March

May 21, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. | Updated May 21, 2019 at 3:46 p.m.

by Associated Press

This Wednesday, March 20, 2019 photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Water Patrol Troopers assisting utility company employees in shutting off natural gas lines in flood waters at Craig, Mo. In northwest Missouri, a levee breached Tuesday, March 19, unleashed a torrent that overwhelmed a temporary berm that was built up with excavators and sandbags to protect the small town of Craig, where the 220 residents were ordered to evacuate. "They've got water running down Main Street," said Tom Bullock, emergency management director of Holt County, where Craig is located.
This Wednesday, March 20, 2019 photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Water Patrol Troopers assisting utility company employees in shutting off natural gas lines in flood waters at Craig, Mo. In northwest Missouri, a levee breached Tuesday, March 19, unleashed a torrent that overwhelmed a temporary berm that was built up with excavators and sandbags to protect the small town of Craig, where the 220 residents were ordered to evacuate. "They've got water running down Main Street," said Tom Bullock, emergency management director of Holt County, where Craig is located.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster for 13 Missouri counties damaged by March flooding.

The declaration was announced Monday night. Republican Gov. Mike Parson requested the declaration in April, before a second round of flooding earlier this month caused significant damage in eastern Missouri, particularly along the Mississippi River.

The disaster declaration makes federal aid available to help repair roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. Most of the counties are in northwestern Missouri, where the Missouri River reached near-record levels in March. A few are in southeast Missouri.

Heavy snow melt from the north and significant spring rains have led to waves of flooding in Missouri. With strong storms predicted through Tuesday, forecasters expect rivers to rise again in the coming days.

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