McCaskill says Joplin recovery funds are not in jeopardy

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill says federal funding for Joplin is not in jeopardy.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said last week that funding for some long-term projects in the tornado-ravaged town would be put on hold because of Hurricane Irene.

McCaskill said she was worried initially but says she got a better explanation over the weekend.

"I do now realize that the only proposed shift was in order to meet immediate emergency needs in areas that have been impacted given how much money is left in the disaster fund between now and the end of the year," McCaskill says.

That fund has less than one billion dollars with the fiscal year ending in just over a month.

McCaskill says the U.S. House has passed the appropriation for the disaster fund for next year’s budget and she expects the Senate will do the same.

The Missouri Democrat says she’ll be watching to make sure Joplin gets the money it’s been promised.

Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio

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Mo. Senate Appropriates Chair says Nixon's disaster spending is unconstitutional

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Senate appropriations chair says Governor Jay Nixon's natural disaster spending is unconstitutional.

Central Republican Kurt Schaefer agrees with the state auditor that Nixon's funding of natural disaster relief violates the Missouri constitution.

He says there's no basis for Nixon's spending on disaster recovery without approval of the state legislature.

"The basis of withholding money on public education, on the concept that we have to spend it somewhere else--on natural disasters, for example--there's nothing that backs that up," Schaefer says.

The state auditor's office previously released a statement condemning Nixon's spending.

A spokesman at the Governor's office refused to be recorded.

Scott Kanowsky, Missouri Digital News

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Schweich sharply critical of budget withholdings for disasters

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - A new report from the Missouri state auditor says Gov. Jay Nixon did not follow the Missouri Constitution when he withheld $170 million from the current budget to help fund disaster relief.

Auditor Tom Schweich says withholdings can only be made if actual revenues come in below what’s estimated. That wasn’t possible in this case because the fiscal year hadn’t even started.

Schweich also said his office was "startled" by the fact that Nixon’s office could not demonstrate how it reached the 170 million number.

"We would have expected spreadsheets, estimates, projections, comparative scenarios of possible revenue," Schweich says. "We would have expected the typical things any auditor would expect."

Schweich says the governor should have worked with lawmakers instead of taking unilateral action.

"There’s a supplemental budget coming up, there are future fiscal years coming up, those budgets can account for Joplin," Schweich says. "And also there’s a rainy day fund with $500 million in it that’s never one time been tapped for disasters. Now if there was ever a rainy day, it’s what happened in Joplin."

In a statement, Nixon spokesman Scott Holste called the auditor’s letter “wrong,” and said the withholdings are a further example of Nixon’s fiscal responsibility.

Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

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President declares state of emergency in Missouri

President Barack Obama declared that an emergency exists in the State of Missouri on Thursday.

He ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the regions struck by the flooding that has swamped the state since June 1.

The action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.

Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

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Parks director hopes FEMA will cover Big Oak Tree State Park cleanup

Big Oak Tree State Park will reopen before the end of the summer, according to the director of Missouri State Parks. 
The park is located within the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway.

Bill Bryan says that the park should be available for day use, but the visitor’s center and other facilities will not be ready until next year. The buildings are structurally sound, he says. They just need to be cleaned up.

Bryan says that cleanup costs have not yet been determined.

“We’ll work with FEMA like the other land owners in the floodway and look for some help with that so that Missouri taxpayers, who have already paid to build that park once, it’s only fair that if the rest of the nation benefited from the operation of the floodway that the rest of the nation should help pay for the restoration of the park as well,” Bryan said.

Bryan says that it is too early to tell if the floods caused any ecological damage to the park.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Total cost of Missouri disasters won't be known until August

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says it could be another month before the state knows the bill after the Joplin tornado and the ongoing north Missouri flooding.

Nixon says he’s hoping the $50 million he’s set aside for matching Federal Emergency funds will be enough, and is confident the Joplin tornado will be more costly than the flooding.

Still, Nixon adds the finances are holding for now.

"The bottom line is that we have the adequate resources to deal with the issues," Nixon said. "We haven’t been out-resourced here yet. There hasn’t been any decisions that we have made- that have been made- based on either overtime for troopers or necessity to call up the Guard or get the helicopters down, that have been limited by cost factors."

Nixon says with debris still being cleaned up in Joplin and the flooding in northwest Missouri continuing, it could be August before the state has a complete cost analysis of the disasters.

Kirk Wayman, KXCV

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Danforth unveils "Joplin Tomorrow"

JOPLIN, MO (KSMU) - Joplin business leaders have found a friend in former US Senator John Danforth as they try to rebuild their city after the May 22 tornado left nearly 5,000 people without jobs.

Danforth is spearheading a new non-profit organization called “Joplin Tomorrow.” It will provide low or no-interest loans to businesses that want to call Joplin home. The offer is also good for businesses hoping to expand in Joplin.

The former politicians said he will travel the state raising money for the fund.

“A lot of this is business helping business to create business for the future. That’s going to have a lot of appeal to people, I think, throughout our state, who want to do something for Joplin,” he said.

Danforth said other business recovery loans and programs are helpful—but they only seek to maintain the status quo a business held before the tornado. In contrast, he said, the “Joplin Tomorrow” loans will help businesses expand, even beyond what they previously were.

Five members of the Joplin business community will volunteer their time to administer the loans. Contributions will be tax-deductible.

The fund already has one million dollars: half a million from the Danforth Foundation, which ceased operating last month, and another half million from Joplin business owners.

For more information on the fund, you can visit www.joplintomorrow.org.

Jennifer Moore, KSMU

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Disaster assistance available in Cairo

CAIRO, IL (WSIU) - Disaster assistance advice is available in Cairo and other areas in southern Illinois.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Spokesman Sam Ventura says those who want damage assistance should apply by phone or on-line (www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or by phone at 800-659-2955) before visiting the Disaster Recovery Center in Cairo.

"They're calling because they have had damages because of the flooding. And now that the counties have been declared disaster areas by the President, they can qualify for federal assistance," Ventura said.

Residents of the following counties are eligible for individual assistance: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Lawrence, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, White and Williamson.

One center is located at Emerson Elementary School, 3101 Elm St. in Cairo. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily (including weekends) through June 21, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily (including weekends and July 4) from June 29-July 6.

Another disaster recovery center will open on Thursday in Junction at Gallatin School, 5175 Route 13.

Jennifer Fuller, WSIU

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Disaster aid to Missouri tops $21 million

Missouri residents have been approved for more than $21 million of federal disaster aid following tornadoes and flooding, according to the Associated Press.

That number is likely to keep rising. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that more than $12 million has gone to individuals hit by the Joplin tornado.

The rest has gone to people affected by flooding in southeast Missouri, a tornado that struck St. Louis and other severe weather since May 9.

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Twenty-one Southern Illinois counties will receive federal assistance

Governor Pat Quinn says 21 southern Illinois counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance following flooding earlier this year, according to the Associated Press.

State and local governments can seek reimbursements for 75% of their eligible expenses related to flooding and storms that hit southern Illinois in April and May.

In May officials from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency met with local governments in nearly two dozen counties. State officials say the review showed that the cost to state and local government was $20 million.

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President declares more disaster areas in Missouri

President Barack Obama declared six more Missouri counties as disaster areas following the April 19 storms and the subsequent flooding.

Bollinger, Dunklin, Pemiscot, Reynolds, St. Francois, and Phelps Counties are now added to the list that already included much of Southeast Missouri.

Individuals affected by the floods and storms who reside or have a business in these counties may qualify for tax relief or other assistance.

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Red Cross does not need item donations for Joplin tornado victims

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The American Red Cross’ job has gotten a little bit harder this week.

Their Southeast Missouri volunteers are already working closely with those displaced from their homes due to flooding. But as Cheryl Klueppel, the chapter’s Executive Director explains, the group is also reaching out to Joplin area residents affected by the recent tornado.

“Our Red Cross has mobilized volunteers to help families, to be of support, to shelter, provide mental health, health services to families in the Joplin area,” Klueppel said.

Klueppel says the Red Cross is not currently in need of item donations. But those interested in giving other types of aid can make a monetary donation at redcross.org or call 211 to volunteer their time with partnering organizations.

Cara Wilson, KRCU

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Agencies meet with flood victims; Pinhook struggles to be reborn

CHARLESTON, MO (KRCU) - Officials from numerous state agencies visited Charleston, Poplar Bluff, New Madrid, Sikeston, and Caruthersville over two days this week to meet with residents who have been affected by this spring’s record flood.

Agencies provided information on unemployment benefits, how to seek damage compensation, and mental health services, among others.

Debra Tarver met with several agencies at the Community Response Meeting in Charleston. She is from the village of Pinhook - population 24 - which sits in the Birds Point spillway.

Despite government efforts to help rebuild, she’s not sure if Pinhook will ever be reborn.

“I want to. But everybody else is pretty much older. You know, it’s a lot of older people there. I don’t know if the young people would go back there at this point. I just don’t know. Financially, it’s hard to say,” Tarver said.

Governor Jay Nixon announced $25 million in disaster relief money for Mississippi, New Madrid, Butler, Taney, and St. Louis Counties. President Barack Obama has declared the same counties a disaster area.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Gov. Nixon requests federal disaster declaration

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon requested a major disaster declaration for the state of Missouri from President Barack Obama, as a result of the high winds, tornadoes and severe flooding that have affected the state since April 19.

The disaster declaration would provide assistance to individuals and public agencies.

Gov. Nixon declared a state of emergency in Missouri effective Friday, April 22. That order activated the State Emergency Operations Center and enabled the state to mobilize its resources – including the State Emergency Management Agency, or SEMA, and the National Guard and Highway. Since that time, more than 750 members of the National Guard have been mobilized to provide assistance where needed, and some 150 Highway Patrol troopers have been assigned to help with the flooding response.

The governor seeks federal assistance for individuals and for cost of responding to tornadoes in the St. Louis area and severe – and in many cases, record – flooding in southern, southeast Missouri.

Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt joined Nixon in his request.

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