MO receives $5.3M FEMA grant

Missouri has received a two-year, $5.3 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help aid the recovery of individuals affected by tornadoes, flooding and severe storms earlier this year.

The Department of Economic Development will use the funding to provide disaster case management for survivors of the EF-5 tornado in Joplin, flooding along the Mississippi River and across southern Missouri, and severe storms and tornadoes that hit the St. Louis area, according to a Dec. 7 news release from the governor's office.

“I’ve made it clear that the state of Missouri has a long-term commitment of being there to see that the needs of Missourians who suffered from these disasters are met,” Gov. Jay Nixon said in the release. “This $5 million grant will help Missourians with their long-term recovery and help strengthen our communities as they come back.”

The disaster case managers will work to identify needs for disaster survivors and help them obtain the resources they need for long-term recovery. Case managers also would help people develop disaster recovery plans, which may include referrals, monitoring of services and advocacy.