Missouri to get federal help for costly May 2020 storms

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved Missouri’s request for a federal disaster declaration for severe storms in early May.

May storm damage near Gideon, Missouri in May, 2020. (AP)

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s office said Friday in a news release that the declaration means federal assistance will be available to help 19 counties with the expense of responding to and recovering from the storm that churned up 70 mph winds.

One person died after strong winds knocked a tree into a home in western Missouri. The winds also tore the roof off a Mansfield school building. And there were several reports of downed trees, with thousands of people in the Kansas City metro area without power.

The preliminary damage and response cost estimates totaled more than $9.3 million.

Parson’s office said some of the federal money will be used to help repair and replace damaged electric power systems, buildings, bridges, roads and other public infrastructure.

The counties included in the disaster declaration are Bates, Butler, Carter, Dallas, Douglas, Dunklin, Henry, Hickory, Howell, Laclede, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Polk, Ripley, Shannon, Stoddard, Wayne, and Wright.