Jefferson City, Missouri – Following the devastating storms and deadly tornadoes that tore Missouri on March 14–15, Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri has acted pro-actively toward recovery. The governor said that the state formally asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to do joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) across 23 impacted counties. This essential step is in preparation for a major federal disaster declaration that would unlock critical federal funds for the recovery efforts.
During a press briefing, Governor Kehoe detailed the devastation observed during his recent visit to the impacted regions. Affecting many families and companies throughout Missouri, he defined the devastation as both broad and catastrophic.
Working with local emergency management officials, the state—through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)—has been carefully compiling and evaluating damage reports. Governor Kehoe said he was confident the degree of damage satisfies the requirements for federal action.
The combined PDA request covers counties including Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Laclede, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Stoddard, Wayne, Webster, and Wright. Teams from FEMA, SEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and local emergency officials will participate in the assessments, which start on Thursday, March 20. These teams will assess the degree of damage to specific properties in order to ascertain eligibility for federal Individual Assistance, which covers other essential expenses such as temporary accommodation and house repairs.
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According to first estimates, over 368 homes were totally destroyed; another 356 suffered significant damage and over a thousand more suffered minor damages. Furthermore, inspections for damage to public infrastructure like roads and bridges are ongoing, with hopes that after the reviews are finished further help requests will be submitted for public assistance.
Especially in terms of damage assessment and tornado intensity and count determination, the National Weather Service (NWS) has been heavily involved. The NWS has therefore verified 12 tornadoes so far, three of which had an EF3 rating, meaning major destruction. The counties of Iron, Butler, and Ozark were most severely affected since the tornadoes destroyed landscapes and buildings with great destruction.
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The continuous help from many volunteer and faith-based groups reinforces the rehabilitation process. Organizations like the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief and Convoy of Hope are offering essential services including emergency supplies, water distribution, and trash collection. Offering meals, lodging, and other assistance to people uprooted by the storms, the Red Cross of Missouri and the Salvation Army are also extremely active.
The number of people without power has dropped dramatically as operations for power restoration go on as of late Monday, proving good reaction and infrastructure resilience. Coordinating the statewide response activities and making sure resources are focused where they are most needed, the State Emergency Operations Center is still operating.
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Those in need of help should contact United Way or the American Red Cross. Visit the state’s specialized disaster recovery website, recovery.mo.gov, which offers comprehensive details on cleanup activities, housing assistance, and mental health services, to learn further about accessible resources and continuous recovery operations. Governor Kehoe’s administration remains committed to a transparent and efficient recovery process, ensuring Missouri’s swift return to normalcy following this natural disaster.
