Bush declares disaster areas in Greene, surrounding counties

Areas included in the disaster declaration are Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties, as well as 29 other counties and the city of St. Louis.

State and local governments and some nonprofit organizations may be eligible for federal funding on a cost-sharing basis. Aid also is available for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Applications and eligibility requirements for aid are available at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site, www.fema.gov.

Surveys of damaged areas will be conducted as soon as the situation permits, according to a FEMA news release. FEMA and Missouri’s Emergency Management Agency also have established a joint field office and are beginning to contact local elected officials to provide resources and begin any reimbursement processes for government organizations.