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Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Missouri
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 13, 2008

Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Missouri

ÿÿWhite House News


The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of
Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and a tornado during
the period of September 11-24, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Marion,
Osage, Schuyler, St. Charles, St. Louis, Stone, Taney, Texas, and Webster
Counties and the Independent City of St. Louis.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs,
low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to
help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments
and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for
emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the
severe storms, flooding, and a tornado in Adair, Audrain, Barry, Bollinger,
Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Chariton, Christian, Clark,
Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howard, Howell, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln,
Linn, Madison, Maries, Marion, Miller, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry,
Ralls, Ray, Reynolds, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby,
St. Genevieve, Stoddard, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Wayne, Webster, and
Wright Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael L. Karl as the
Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the
affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested
by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the
designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by
registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech
impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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