Federal Assistance Following Flood

Damage Assessment Teams Continue Building Case for Federal Assistance Following Flood

JEFFERSON CITY, May 16, 2007-With floodwaters beginning to recede, damage assessments teams are surveying damage and gathering critical information needed to request federal assistance. The governor has requested damage assessments for 33 counties.

“Four joint damage assessment teams are actively compiling information on damages to critical facilities, primary homes and businesses, insurance coverage, and the number of deaths and injuries directly related to recent flooding. Once the assessments are completed, the information is submitted to Governor Blunt,” said Mark James, Director of Public Safety.

A joint damage assessment team includes of representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration, the State Emergency Management Agency, and county and local officials. The teams’ findings
are the initial step in requesting federal assistance.

Blunt has requested teams to canvass 33 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cole Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Moniteau, Morgan, Nodaway, Osage, Platte, Ray, and Saline, and Worth Counties.

An Individual Assistance Disaster Declaration is usually based on high concentration
rather than scattered damages to primary homes and businesses. It also takes into
account the number of deaths, injuries, insurance coverage, disruption of community
services including power outages, and voluntary agency response.

A Public Assistance Disaster Declaration helps rebuild damaged public infrastructure
such as roads, bridges, critical facilities, public utilities, and reimburses local governments for debris removal. To qualify for a Public Assistance Disaster Declaration, Missouri must show damages have exceeded $1.22 per capita or $6.8 million statewide. In order for a county to be declared, the threshold is $3.05 per capita.

If a federal disaster declaration is denied, the Small Business Administration (SBA) may issue an Economic Injury Disaster Assistance declaration to help citizens and businesses begin recovering from a disaster.

*News Release*
*Public Safety*	Matt Blunt, Governor	Mark James, Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact: Terri Durdaller Communication Director Work:(573) 751-4819 Cell: (573) 301-2023
Damage Assessment Teams Continue Building Case for Federal Assistance Following Flood JEFFERSON CITY, May 16, 2007-With floodwaters beginning to recede, damage assessments teams are surveying damage and gathering critical information needed to request federal assistance. The governor has requested damage assessments for 33 counties. “Four joint damage assessment teams are actively compiling information on damages to critical facilities, primary homes and businesses, insurance coverage, and the number of deaths and injuries directly related to recent flooding. Once the assessments are completed, the information is submitted to Governor Blunt,” said Mark James, Director of Public Safety. A joint damage assessment team includes of representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration, the State Emergency Management Agency, and county and local officials. The teams’ findings are the initial step in requesting federal assistance. Blunt has requested teams to canvass 33 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cole Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Moniteau, Morgan, Nodaway, Osage, Platte, Ray, and Saline, and Worth Counties. An Individual Assistance Disaster Declaration is usually based on high concentration rather than scattered damages to primary homes and businesses. It also takes into account the number of deaths, injuries, insurance coverage, disruption of community services including power outages, and voluntary agency response. A Public Assistance Disaster Declaration helps rebuild damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, critical facilities, public utilities, and reimburses local governments for debris removal. To qualify for a Public Assistance Disaster Declaration, Missouri must show damages have exceeded $1.22 per capita or $6.8 million statewide. In order for a county to be declared, the threshold is $3.05 per capita. If a federal disaster declaration is denied, the Small Business Administration (SBA) may issue an Economic Injury Disaster Assistance declaration to help citizens and businesses begin recovering from a disaster.
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