Disaster Number 1773

06/25/2008 - Severe Storms and Flooding

During June through Aug. 2008, Missouri experienced a slow moving storm system that generated high winds, hail, tornadoes, record rainfall, flooding and flash flooding across the entire state. On June 1, Gov. Matt Blunt directed activation of the State Emergency Operations Plan and declared a state of emergency for the entire state.

Gov. Blunt ordered 165 members of the Missouri National Guard to assist with local security missions, levee monitoring, sandbagging and liaison operations with land officials. The Missouri Department of Transportation also assisted with sandbagging operations after the Corps of Engineers and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) coordinated the delivery of more than 1.2 million sandbags.

On June 15, Gov. Blunt requested that a major disaster declaration be approved for Missouri by President George Bush, requesting that Missouri receive both Public and Individual Assistance.

On June 25, President Bush approved the request for Public and Individual Assistance for the affected counties. The President also granted Small Business Administration disaster loans for qualifying businesses and homeowners.

Jurisdictions included in that declaration were Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Bates, Buchanan, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Daviess, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Morgan, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, the independent City of St. Louis, Ste Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Vernon, Webster and Worth Counties.

The major disaster declaration provided public assistance to the affected counties for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and permanent work to repair or replace facilities and infrastructure damaged by the severe storms.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides federal funds to reimburse 75 percent of the costs for removing debris, conducting emergency activities and repairing roads, bridges, utility and water control facilities, public buildings and parks.

FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program provides disaster assistance for individuals and households affected by declared disasters. This includes the cost of repairs and replacements not covered by insurance on homes and vehicles affected by the disaster, temporary housing for those left without a home, disaster related medical and dental care, disaster related funeral and burial costs, moving and storage costs, crisis counseling and any other expenses determined necessary by FEMA.

More information on this disaster is available on FEMA's website.