St. Louis is in a state of emergency.
And I must commend Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on two fronts after an EF3 tornado ripped through my hometown late last week.
First, to prepare for this massive weather event, Kehoe extended a state of emergency first issued in March that allocated state resources to aid in this current recovery effort. And Kehoe’s request on Monday asking President Donald Trump to issue a federal emergency declaration for the entire state in response to the May 16 tornadoes and severe storms that damaged property in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and several counties in southeast Missouri is true servant leadership.
But it remains uncertain whether Trump will act — under this administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has all but declared that disaster recovery efforts would fall on individual states.
Trump recently denied Kansas’ request for disaster relief. My hope is he says yes to a state that carried him by double margins in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Presidential elections.
Schmitt, Hawley implore Trump
According to Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, Trump loves this state, so there’s that.
“I spoke with President Trump this afternoon about the damage in eastern Missouri from yesterday’s storms,” Schmitt wrote on X on Saturday. “He is engaged and loves Missouri.”
At a press conference here Monday, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley said he planned to implore Trump to expedite the emergency response process — a development that could take time, Hawley said.
“We need FEMA to act very quickly,” Hawley said. “Very, very quickly. And that will be my message to the President.”
These severe storms and tornadoes caused seven deaths statewide and widespread damage in the St. Louis region and beyond, according to Kehoe’s office.
Thousands of homes — mainly in this city’s urban core — have been destroyed, families have been uprooted or outright displaced and people have died, according to officials. …
FEMA to assess the tornado damage
FEMA will be here Wednesday and in southeast Missouri to assess damage caused by the tornado.
St. Louis officials have said that the total was at least $1 billion. A federal emergency declaration would provide about $5 million while the joint preliminary damage assessments will allow the normal federal major disaster declaration process to move forward.
The emergency funding would be used by the state to support emergency protective measures and debris removal.
If Trump issues an emergency declaration, individuals could apply for financial relief, temporary housing assistance and other qualifying expenses.
