FEMA, local and state partners assess tornado damage
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Tommie Kates had only been living in his North City home for a few weeks before the tornado hit. Now, the place is uninhabitable.
“We really need y’all’s help here. It’s bad out here,” Kates said, “I’ve been sleeping in my car at night.”
Kates has no idea what is next.
Norbert Thompson’s home in North City has now been reduced to a pile of rubble. He says his front door was open when the tornado hit.
He survived by sheltering with his dog in a hole created by his fridge and a door. His house collapsed on top of him.
Thompson stated, “I said to myself I wouldn’t move until someone called my name. Right after that, someone called my name.”
Thompson gave his dog to the rescuers first before he was extracted from the debris.
Thompson said, “I would like to rebuild, because I like the area.”
These homes are just two of the many that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is out assessing with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the St. Louis Fire Department, and the Small Business istration (SBA).
This is just the beginning of a weeks-long process that could lead to a disaster declaration and assistance from the federal government. Representatives from all four organizations are dividing into groups to inspect every home and structure, document the damage, and note which properties have been destroyed or show minor to major damage.
The reason all agencies are going out together is to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Mike O’Connell, a spokesman for SEMA, said, “The reason we do this is so when we make the request as a state for a disaster declaration, we’re all in agreement.”
The hope is that this agreement will expedite the process for getting federal assistance.
O’Connell said, “FEMA has a threshold, we don’t know what that formula is, but you have to hit a certain threshold as a state and as individual counties to qualify for a disaster declaration.”
On Monday, Governor Mike Kehoe submitted an emergency declaration to the federal government. Some funds may arrive sooner.
O’Connell said, “The idea is to try to get an infusion of federal money into the state to start assistance faster.”
These organizations are primarily focused on providing individual assistance. This includes helping those who are uninsured or need with housing, rental costs, medications, grocery bills, and more.
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