Following the recent historic flooding event, Texas County residents and officials are in the process of recovery.
Texas County Presiding Commissioner Fred Stenger said relief funding from the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is expected after a process similar to that of other flood-related disasters the past several years.
Following record rainfall, Texas County sustained major damage to roads and bridges, as streams went on a tear. Many roadways are impassable and remain closed, officials said. Homes and some businesses had losses.
Rainfall began on April 29 and extended until Sunday. Additional rain came after the initial flooding, but didn’t cause significant damage.
DISASTER AID PROCESS
The governor of the state must declare the area a state disaster. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act states that “all requests for a declaration by the president that a major disaster exists shall be made by the governor of the affected state.”
That hadn’t happened by Tuesday.
MAKING PREPARATIONS
Stenger said county residents should do all they can to be prepared to try to qualify for assistance.
“Due to the recent flooding events throughout Texas County, anyone who incurred damage to their homes or other personal property are urged to document the damages,” Stenger said. “SEMA will require lots of photographs of the damage as well as documentation for expenses incurred to make the repairs. This will only apply if the declaration includes private property.”
RED CROSS AID
The Red Cross offered assistance to Texas County in the form of free flood clean-up kits that include gloves, bleach, disinfectant and other cleaning items as well as some other tools for flood clean up. County emergency management director Keith Follin said 20 kits were provided, and 12 remained as of Tuesday morning.
The items are available in the basement of the Texas County Administrative Center on Grand Avenue in downtown Houston. People obtaining the items are required to provide a name, address and phone number.
Those needing more information can call Follin at 417-967-6536 or log onto the EMD Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Texas-CountyEmergencyManagement.