Missouri Unified Command Tested During
Busiest Disaster Year in History
JEFFERSON CITY, January 3, 2007-Last year was the busiest
disaster period on record with seven open disasters, including the
most recent declaration approved on December 31 following the deadly
winter storms. Ironically, these smaller disasters have served to
exercise and test our new capabilities ensuring Missouri is better
prepared for a catastrophic earthquake or a pandemic.
“Governor Blunt's military training and operational
leadership in support of our public safety vision has allowed this
department to respond effectively in the wake of so many devastating
disasters this year,” said Mark James, Director of the Department
of Public Safety.
James says Missouri has greatly improved its natural
disaster response and capability planning since the Blunt Administration
has been in power. As part of the overhaul, Missouri has created a
state unified command structure to facilitate faster and better coordinated
response of all state agencies. Under the current administration,
Missouri updated the State's Emergency Operations Plan to include
the creation of an Earthquake response, dedicated grant funds to help
further interoperable communications, and increased the level of exercise
training for local and state officials.
“2006 has been an extremely busy year for local and state responders.
This year we experienced severe weather, flooding, and tornadoes with
the by-products of debris and extend power outages. The extended power
outages caused headaches not only for our citizens but also for many
communities,” said Ron M. Reynolds, Director of the State Emergency
Management Agency.
Reynolds noted in 2006 Federal Disaster Assistance
was approved for:
• 41 Missouri counties for the March 8-13 tornadoes
for both Individual and Public Disaster Assistance were approved.
• Three Counties for the March 30-April 3 tornadoes for both
Individual and Public Disaster Assistance were approved. In Pemiscot
County, over 60 percent of Caruthersville, 100 percent of Braggadocio,
and 80 percent of Deering were destroyed.
• Seven Counties and the City of St. Louis received an Emergency
Disaster Declaration for the July 19-21 storms, which resulted in
power outages for over 250,000 Missouri electric customers. The federal
assistance reimbursed communities for emergency protective services
and storm related debris removal.
• The City of St. Louis received a Public Assistance Disaster
Declaration for the July 19-21 storms to repair damaged infrastructure.
• 12 Missouri counties received Small Business Administration
Disaster Loan Assistance for the September 22 severe weather and tornadoes.
Over 600 homes and 75 businesses were destroyed. The low-interest
loans are available to homeowners, renters and businesses.
• Small Businesses in 12 Missouri Counties impacted from the
September 22 severe weather and tornadoes can apply for low-interest
Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
• Nine Missouri Counties and the City of St. Louis were approved
for Public Assistance to reimburse emergency protective services and
debris removal in addition to repairing damaged infrastructure from
the Nov 30-December 2, 2006 severe winter storms.
Since 1990, Missouri received 24 Federal Disaster Declarations.
In 1993, SEMA worked three Federal Declarations for flooding. In 2000,
SEMA worked a Wildland Fire Suppression Disaster, a Federal Declaration
for Flooding, and a Small Business Administration Disaster for Flooding.