Missourians Impacted by Mid-March Severe Storms Can Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance. Here’s How:
Kansas City, MO – Missourians in 18 counties impacted by the severe storms March 14-15 are now eligible to apply for assistance to help support their disaster recovery. It’s free, and as easy as a 20- minute phone call or a click online.
President Trump made the federal assistance available earlier this week when he approved a Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Mike Kehoe to help with eligible costs associated with the mid-March severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires.
The assistance, under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, is available to eligible homeowners, renters and self-employed business owners in these counties: Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Wayne, Webster, and Wright.
Note: Damage from the May 16 severe storms and tornadoes in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Scott County, and surrounding area are not included in this declaration.
Here’s how to apply:
▪Online: www.disasterassistance.gov
▪Phone: 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central.
▪Download and use the FEMA app
▪Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI
FEMA works with each household on a case-by-case basis. When you apply for assistance, please have the following information readily available:
▪A current phone number where you can be contacted
▪Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
▪Your Social Security number, if available
▪A general list of damage and losses
▪If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
▪Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds FEMA Individual Assistance offers a range of grants to those affected by disasters who are uninsured or underinsured and determined to be eligible for federal aid based on the type of damage sustained, when the damage occurred and whether federal disaster assistance is available in their area. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid.
The grants can include money for temporary housing and home repairs, replacement of lost essential personal property and more to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Public Assistance:
FEMA Public Assistance for the same March 14-15 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires also was authorized for governmental entities and certain nonprofit organizations in 15 Missouri counties to help repair or replace eligible disaster-damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, government facilities, parks, utilities and more.
The designated counties are: Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, and Wayne.
A second federal declaration authorizing Public Assistance also has been approved for severe weather that occurred from March 30-April 8, 2025. The counties eligible for assistance under this federal declaration are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Wayne, and Webster.
