Damage aid available in tornado-hit counties

The tornadoes killed 16 Missourians, hospitalized more than two dozen people and caused widespread property damage in the three counties, according to a news release from southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt.

Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations that suffered storm damage should register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which, along with the U.S. Small Business Administration, is ready to render assistance.

According to a FEMA news release, even those who registered with FEMA earlier this year because of flood damage should re-register at www.fema.gov if the tornadoes and storms caused new damage. Also, while FEMA won’t duplicate insurance payments, affected parties who have insurance should register in the event that those who are underinsured are reconsidered for eligibility.

Meanwhile, Gov. Matt Blunt and the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Wednesday that individuals in Barry, Jasper and Newton counties who are unemployed as a result of the May 10–11 storms may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance.

Missourians in those three counties must file by June 27 for disaster unemployment assistance, according to a DOLIR news release. Such assistance is meant for those who aren’t eligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program, including farmers and the self-employed.

Funds for the unemployment assistance come from the federal government and not from state employer payroll taxes that are used for regular unemployment benefits.

For more information on filing disaster unemployment assistant claims, call (800) 788-4002.