Missouri officials have made an extraordinary effort in response to the extraordinary flooding that took place this spring in Missouri.
State officials sought and received a federal disaster declaration, which was subsequently expanded to other counties.
Less than five weeks after Missouri received a major disaster declaration for historic flooding and severe storms, the state's disaster recovery team reported that more than $66 million in payments to disaster survivors is helping fuel the state's recovery effort, according to the governor's office.
"Our state recovery team, FEMA and our local partners are all working in close coordination to get the word out that the time to register for assistance and ask questions about the help available is now," Missouri Disaster Recovery Coordinator Patrick Baker said in a news release.
But those efforts will be in vain for people who need assistance and don't register before the upcoming Aug. 14 deadline. That's when homeowners, renters and businesses must register and apply with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for federal disaster assistance or a low-interest disaster assistance loan.
To see if you qualify, call 800-621-3362.
Visit Recovery.mo.gov for more flood recovery resources.
So far:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made more than $10.2 million in grant payments to 1,588 disaster survivors, for emergency home repairs, rental assistance, the replacement of essential personal property and other eligible expenses.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved approximately $9.1 million in low-interest disaster loans to more than 140 homeowners, renters and businesses.
The National Flood Insurance Program has made payments totaling just under $47 million to 931 Missouri policyholders. NFIP continues to process more than 350 additional claims.
FEMA's 23 recovery centers have logged more than 1,600 visits by survivors for one-on-one counseling on available assistance, flood insurance, mitigation methods and disaster loans from SBA.
Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) continue to provide information and services at many of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health announced FEMA also had awarded the department a $500,000 Crisis Counseling Program grant that will fund psychological services to help build resiliency among disaster survivors.
We commend local, state and federal officials in Mid-Missouri who have worked tirelessly to bring flood relief to the area long after flood waters have receded. And we urge homeowners, renters and businesses who need assistance to register before the Aug. 1 deadline.