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Aug. 1, 2025

As our community continues to recover and rebuild after the devastating storm on May 16, I wanted to continue providing information regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance in St. Louis. 

New Recovery Programs with the City of St. Louis

The city of St. Louis has launched new recovery programs to assist residents impacted by the May 16 tornado. These programs address urgent repair needs, provide trusted technical guidance and protect homeowners from fraud or further damage. Four initiatives are underway:

For details, visit: New Recovery Programs for St. Louisans. Visit the City of St. Louis’ STLRECOVERS.com for more response and recovery resources.

FEMA Assistance

If you live in St. Louis City or St. Louis County and sustained damage to your home or personal property in the May 16 disaster, you can apply for FEMA assistance. You can also visit stlouis-mo.gov/tornado for response and recovery resources. FEMA may be able to provide financial assistance to help cover necessary expenses if you are uninsured or underinsured, such as money to help pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, essential personal property that was destroyed and other needs. The deadline to apply is Aug. 11, 2025. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You may also call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. If you received FEMA Displacement Assistance, you may be eligible for Rental Assistance. To ask for Rental Assistance, call the FEMA Helpline. Rental Assistance is intended to help cover your monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit, at a place you choose to rent because of damage to your home. It might not cover all of your rental expenses.

FEMA housing inspectors are in St. Louis City and St. Louis County to verify damage reports and property losses. FEMA inspectors will already know your FEMA case number, will present their FEMA ID and never ask for or accept money. This service is free. Contact local law enforcement if you are concerned about someone claiming to be a FEMA inspector.

You will need to provide the following information when applying for aid:

Please be sure to keep receipts for disaster related items purchased (items to make repairs to home, hotel receipts, etc.)

After applying, a FEMA inspector may contact you to schedule a home inspection. This inspection is required for FEMA to verify damage reported on your application. You will be sent a determination letter from FEMA either by mail or email. If you have insurance, FEMA will not be able to consider you for assistance until you provide insurance documentation, such as an insurance settlement or denial letter, to FEMA. If your letter says your application cannot be approved, it does not mean you’re denied. The letter will explain how to appeal the decision if you do not agree with it.

People affected by the disasters are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals posing as disaster relief workers. FEMA doesn’t endorse any businesses, products or services. To report disaster fraud, contact law enforcement, email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov or call the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721.

Disaster Recovery Centers

The following Disaster Recovery Centers with FEMA Individual Assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration staff are open to help affected residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions and upload required documents. You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center, no matter where you are staying now. Additionally, if you do not have reliable transportation, the city of St. Louis is providing Uber transportation for rides to a Disaster Recovery Center, up to $50 each way. 

To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you. You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

The Missouri Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security is accepting applications for DUA through Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. DUA may provide unemployment benefits and reemployment services to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of the May 16 disaster. To file a DUA claim online, visit: uinteract.labor.mo.gov/benefits.

To be eligible for DUA, individuals must:

Small Business Administration

Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the disaster. You can apply for these loans through MySBA Loan Portal.

The SBA’s Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) and Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) serve as a one-stop shop for disaster assistance. These centers provide in-person support with SBA disaster loan applications, help applicants check their loan status and offer guidance on funds available to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters impacted in a declared disaster area. SBA representatives are also in all Disaster Recovery Centers.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in the legislative process. I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that are important to you this legislative session. If there is anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 573-751-3599.