Amidst flooding, a history of federal disaster declarations in Missouri

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)

Dec. 29--WASHINGTON -- The St. Louis region is potentially headed toward a federal disaster declaration because of holiday season flooding. If so, it would be the 67th such action in Missouri by the federal government since 1953.

Only 19 of the 66 previous federally declared disasters in the state have been because of flooding, according to FEMA. A majority -- 33 -- have been for severe storms. Since 2005, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has funneled about $1.5 billion into the state for everything from individual assistance to disaster and terrorism preparedness.

Almost a third of that FEMA assistance came in 2011 after the devastating Jopin, Mo., tornado that killed 158 people and destroyed more than 7,000 homes. That twister caused more than $2.8 billion in damages, much of it covered by insurance.

By contrast, neighboring Arkansas has had 68 declarations and Illinois and Iowa have had 60 each over the past 62 years. Kansas has had 57. Illinois has received about $2.6 billion in FEMA funds, Iowa about $2.5 billion, over the last 10 years. Kansas has received about $1.2 billion, and Arkansas about $826 million.

Most federal disaster designations don't cover the entire state. In Missouri, Ray County in the northwestern part of the state, whose county seat of Richmond is about 50 miles east of Kansas City, has been part of 28 disaster declarations since 1953, the most in the state. St. Louis County is second at 27.

Nationally, there have been 3,477 federal disaster declarations since 1953. Governors must ask the regional FEMA office for that declaration, and a decision is made whether to grant it after a preliminary damage assessment. The designation then qualifies residents and governments for federal assistance.