Missouri Senator Hawley tours storm damage in St. Louis; Gov. Kehoe provides update on resources

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Missouri Senator Josh Hawley ed local leaders for a tour of the storm damage in St. Louis on Monday.

Sen. Hawley said he spoke with many residents who have been affected by the severe weather and described the damage as devastating.

The senator said the Federal Government has a big role in recovery efforts and is calling for all Federal resources to come to St. Louis.

Sen. Hawley also called on all insurance companies to pay out claims to those who have been injured or sustained damages as a result of the weather.

As for FEMA assistance, the senator said the state is “running point” on recovery efforts with FEMA assisting, and he wants all of FEMA’s resources to be deployed. Sen. Hawley said he does not believe FEMA will deny the request to respond and assist.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who spoke after Sen. Hawley, said the city needs the manpower that the Federal Government can provide to help with recovery. Mayor Spencer also said there will be a full report later in the day on why the emergency sirens weren’t sounded during the storms.

Mayor Spencer also said that the curfew for districts 5 and 6, which is part of the Central West End and North City, is in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., as it was over the weekend.

Earlier in the day, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe provided an update on the effort to get federal assistance following Friday’s devastating storms. He said he requested that President Donald Trump issue a Federal Emergency Declaration, which would give Missouri $5 million in immediate funding. He is also pursuing a Major Disaster Declaration to reimburse local governments for emergency storm response and provide assistance to individual storm victims.

Governor Kehoe said that beginning on Wednesday six teams will be surveying damage to determine if assistance can be requested through FEMA. The FEMA assistance would be anything from temporary housing, replacement of lost items, money for repairs and more.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is already looking for ways to help serve those impacted in the long term. On Sunday, the organization went door-to-door evaluating over 500 homes. They also delivered food and water to more than 250 homes over the weekend.

The Missouri National Guard told First Alert 4 that they are ready to respond if requested by local authorities and approved by the State Emergency Management Agency.

Gov. Kehoe has said that there are currently no identified missions for which the National Guard would be the appropriate resource as of Monday evening.

However, Kehoe directed the Missouri National Guard to provide a Liaison Officer to assist the city with evaluating and advising local officials on potential appropriate missions for the Guard. That individual will report to the St. Louis Emergency Operations Center tomorrow morning, the governor’s office said.

Click here for a list of resources for those impacted and those looking to help.

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