• MERAMEC RIVER FLOODINGOn August 8, 2022, President Joe Biden approved Gov. Mike Parson’s request for a major disaster declaration, allowing people affected by the July 25-28 flooding in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County to apply for federal assistance.

    Key Messages

    • People who were affected by the July 25-28 flooding and severe storms in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County may apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
    • FEMA works with everyone – renters and homeowners – on a case-by-case basis.
    • Six FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open Monday–Saturday until further notice.
    • FEMA has approved more than $29.3 million in Individual Assistance grants for renters and homeowners.
    • More than 9,400 households have been approved for FEMA Individual Assistance.
    • FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid $15.2 million in claims for policyholders.
    • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $11.4 million in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

     

    • FEMA is canvassing St. Louis-area neighborhoods affected by the flooding to help people.
    • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and free legal assistance are available to survivors.

    People with Flood Damage in Missouri Can Apply for FEMA Help

    The FEMA application deadline is October 7, 2022.

    Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA mobile app.

    • If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

    For needs not covered by insurance or other sources, FEMA may be able to provide Individual Assistance grant money that does not have to be repaid for:

    • Rental Assistance if you need to relocate because of flood damage
    • Personal Property that was damaged or destroyed by flooding
    • Lodging Reimbursement if you had to stay in a hotel temporarily
    • Basic Home Repairs for homeowners whose primary residence was damaged by flooding
    • Other Serious Needs caused by recent flooding


    In addition to the assistance listed, please note the following:

    • Only one application per household
    • FEMA does not pay for lost or spoiled food
    • By law, FEMA is not allowed to duplicate insurance payments or assistance provided by other sources


    People with Insurance Can Apply with FEMA

    • You can apply with FEMA, even if you have insurance.

     

    • The law does not allow FEMA to duplicate insurance benefits. However, FEMA may be able to help with items that insurance does not cover:

    o   Rental assistance and lodging expense reimbursement not available through flood insurance.

    o   Repair assistance for uninsurable items such as wells, septic systems and privately owned access roads.

    o   Vehicle repair or replacement that is not covered under liability policies.

     

    • You do not have to wait for your insurance settlement before you apply with FEMA.

    o   You may be eligible for some assistance right away.

    o   You have up to one year to submit your settlement to see if you qualify for any additional assistance.

     

    Please Stay in Touch with FEMA

    • If you were directly affected by the flooding – and have unmet needs – please stay in touch.
    • Please tell FEMA about your specific needs.
    • FEMA works with everyone – renters and homeowners – on a case-by-case basis.
    • Registering with United Way 211, the Red Cross or another organization does NOT automatically create an application with FEMA.


    Have This Information Ready When You Apply with FEMA

    • Phone number where you can be contacted
    • Address at the time of the flooding
    • Address where you are staying now
    • Social Security number of one member of the household
    • Basic list of damage and losses
    • Bank information if you choose direct deposit for any FEMA money that may be awarded you
    • Insurance Information if you have insurance, including the policy number

     

    Six Disaster Recovery Centers Open Six Days a Week for One-On-One Help


    FEMA has six Disaster Recovery Centers open to provide one-on-one assistance to people directly affected by the July 25-28 flooding and severe storms.

    • Centers are open six days a week: Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.
    • All recovery centers are closed on Sundays.

     

    The center locations are:

     

    ST. LOUIS CITY

    Ranken Technical College

    Mary Ann Lee Technology Center

    1313 N. Newstead Ave.

    St. Louis, MO 63113

    (On the corner of Newstead and Page)

     

    ST. LOUIS COUNTY

    Urban League Empowerment Center

    9420 W. Florissant Ave.

    Ferguson, MO 63136

    University City Recreation Division

    Centennial Commons

    7210 Olive Blvd.

    University City, MO 63130

     

    Hazelwood Civic Center

    8969 Dunn Road

    Hazelwood, MO 63042

     

                                                    ST. CHARLES COUNTY

    O’Fallon Municipal Centre

    100 N. Main St.

    O’Fallon, MO 63366

    (Southeast Entrance)

     

    Developmental Disabilities Resource Board – DDRB Building

    1025 Country Club Road

    St. Charles, MO 63303

    (Near I-70 at the Zumbehl Road Exit)


    No appointment is necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Walk-ins are welcome.


    If you need help applying, FEMA can assist you at a Disaster Recovery Center.

     

    People affected by flooding in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County may visit any recovery center.

    How to Apply with FEMA

    Apply with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov; or call 800-621-3362; or use the FEMA mobile app online here: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products.

    Details about the O’Fallon (Missouri) recovery center are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220831/disaster-recovery-center-opening-ofallon-missouri

    Details about the Ferguson recovery center are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220829/disaster-recovery-center-opening-ferguson

    Details about the University City recovery center are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220825/disaster-recovery-center-opening-university-city

    Details about the St. Charles recovery center are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220819/disaster-recovery-center-open-st-charles-county

    Details about the Hazelwood recovery center reopening are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220818/disaster-recovery-center-reopen-hazelwood-monday

    Details about the St. Louis City recovery center are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220816/disaster-recovery-center-opens-st-louis-city-assist-flood-survivors

    FEMA is Canvassing St. Louis-Area Neighborhoods to Assist Flood Survivors

    FEMA is canvassing St. Louis-area communities affected by the July flooding. Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews are working in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County.

    DSA personnel work in communities designated as federal disaster areas to help renters and homeowners apply with FEMA and quickly identify and address immediate and emerging needs.

    Housing inspectors contracted by FEMA also are working in disaster-designated areas, inspecting damage sustained by survivors who have already applied with FEMA. When FEMA-contracted inspectors arrive at a home, they will display official photo identification. If the photo ID is not visible, it’s OK to ask to see it. This helps prevent fraud.

    Details are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220809/fema-canvass-st-louis-area-neighborhoods-assist-flood-survivors

    Free Legal Assistance Available

    Free legal assistance is available to Missourians in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County who need help with flood-related issues, such as home repair contracts and insurance claims.

    Disaster Legal hotline

    St. Louis area residents can call 800-829-4128 to leave a message about legal issues arising from damage caused by the July flooding and severe storms. When leaving a message, include your name, phone number, and county of residence. Volunteer Missouri lawyers will return calls as soon as possible.

    Details are online: https://news.mobar.org/free-legal-assistance-available-to-st-louis-area-flood-victims/

    Unemployment Benefits Available to Flood Survivors – Deadline September 9
    The Missouri Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security will accept applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through September 9, 2022, from individuals in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis and St. Charles counties whose employment was lost or interrupted due to severe storms and flooding that occurred July 25-28, 2022.

    Details are available in a     release from the Missouri Department of Labor.

    It is available online: https://labor.mo.gov/news/press-releases/application-deadline-approaching-disaster-unemployment-benefits-flood-victims.

    IRS Offers Some Tax Relief to Flood Survivors

    Storm survivors in parts of Missouri now have until November 15, 2022, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced August 10.

    For more information, call the IRS at 800-234-1040 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday.

    Details are online: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-missouri-storm-flooding-victims-now-eligible-for-tax-relief-oct-17-deadline-other-dates-extended-to-nov-15

    FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program

    FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is assisting policyholders who experienced losses due to flooding. Contact your insurance agent to report your loss. If you can’t remember the name or number of the insurance company, call NFIP at 877-336-2627. Learn more about flood insurance at FloodSmart.gov.

    • FEMA has paid more than $15.2 million in claims for flood losses in the St. Louis area in Missouri.

    U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

    Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Missouri following the July storms. To be considered for all disaster assistance, applicants must first register with FEMA. Then they may apply online at SBA’s secure website: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.

    SBA representatives will help business owners and residents apply at disaster recovery centers. For a list of locations, or to receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

    Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $11.4 million in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

    The following SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC) opened Monday, August 15: 

    Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc.

    1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd.

    Second Floor, Room # 219

    St. Louis, MO  63113

    Hours and Days of Operation: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday—Friday

     

    SBA disaster representatives continue to be available at all Disaster Recovery Centers.

     

    Other Help Available by Calling 2-1-1

    United Way 211 connects individuals with unmet needs to assistance programs through volunteer and faith-based organizations. Anyone impacted who needs additional help should call 2-1-1 for assistance or visit http://211helps.org.

     

    The recovery.mo.gov website also has additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri. 

     

    Registering with United Way 211, the Red Cross or another organization does NOT automatically create an application with FEMA.

     

    Apply with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov; or call 800-621-3362; or use the FEMA mobile app online here: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products.

    FEMA Civil Rights Notice for Members of the Public

    FEMA does not treat people differently because of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. FEMA provides free aids and services to people to help them communicate with us and understand FEMA programs.

    Details are online: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20220816/fema-civil-rights-notice-members-public

    Public Assistance (PA) Deadline for Governments and Private Non-Profits is Today, Wednesday, September 7

    Local governments and eligible nonprofits in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, St. Charles and Montgomery counties may be able to receive reimbursements for eligible disaster recovery and response costs. Public Assistance (PA) is a federal grant program administered by FEMA and managed at the state level by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

    As a reimbursing, cost-share program, FEMA may reimburse approved applicants up to 75 percent of eligible costs. FEMA requires documentation that supports reimbursement of claimed costs. Eligible costs are, generally, costs that were incurred as related to severe storms, and flash flooding that occurred July 25-28.

    The deadline to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) is today, September 7, 2022.

    SEMA recommends submitting RPAs as soon as possible.

    For details, visit: https://sema.dps.mo.gov/programs/state_public_assistance.php

    Preliminary Damage Assessments Conducted in Missouri

    In early August, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, FEMA and SBA conducted joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County.

    Local officials led the PDA teams to neighborhoods affected by the July 25-28 flooding and severe storms.

    Of the apartments and houses identified by local officials, more than 750 had sustained major damage. At least 550 others had been affected by flooding.

    By design, PDAs are not intended to capture all damage. The PDA teams work to be as thorough as possible, while also moving as quickly as possible. The data that is gathered and evaluated assists the governor in making a determination on whether or not to request a presidential disaster declaration.

    For updates, follow us on Twitter @MOSEMA and @FEMARegion7.

    Get the latest information at Recovery.MO.gov and FEMA.gov/disaster/4665.