Trump approves the help of FEMA for Saint-Louis Tornado Relief

ST. Louis – President Donald Trump approved the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday to help St. Louis and its residents recover from the May 16 tornado, Missouri leaders announced.

Governor Mike Kehoe said Trump called him on Monday evening to inform him of the decision.

The governor said on social networks that the county of St. Louis and the county of Scott, in southeast Missouri, were also included in the disaster declaration of the president. More details on federal expenses will be published as they are available. He said.

Mayor Cara Spencer said that she had not yet confirmed a figure. However, Senator Eric Schmitt, R-MO., Said in an article on X that Trump had approved $ 71 million in assistance to help the Missouri communities by storms last month and thanked the president.

The governor also published a thank you on X.

“I appreciate President Trump to call me personally this evening to inform us that he approved Missouri’s request for a major declaration in the event of a disaster in response to the storms and serious tornadoes of May 16. The Missourians are grateful for the management of the president,” said the governor.

Shortly after, Spencer published his own message: “Help is on the way!”

During a press conference later, the mayor thanked the governor, Schmitt and the other Republican state senator Josh Hawley, to “have his back and have pushed this forward”. She also cited the involvement of the Democratic Member of the Chamber representing the city, Wesley Bell.

“We know that we need a concerted effort, especially in the political climate in which we are currently, to make this designation possible, and we are very, very grateful for support,” said Spencer.

The news came while local governments and states have scrambled to build a response in the event of a patchwork disaster from the tornado.

State legislators have accelerated $ 100 million in rescue funds, while city officials opened the “CHAIFETZ ARENA, on Monday, providing a range of social, housing and health services on Monday.

City leaders have also discussed the use of $ 30 million in the RAMS continuation of the tornado repair.

Spencer said that the designation of FEMA disaster approved on Monday is only for helping people affected by the tornado and that a subsequent allowance would be useful for local governments involved in the recovery.

She called it “a first critical step” to unlock federal aid.

“This means that we are going in the right direction,” she said, and “that we have the attention of our president”.

She also said that she would welcome a visit to the president in Saint-Louis.

“I would be delighted to have President Trump here to see, feel, to understand the destruction we had, to see the personal impact, and I welcome the opportunity to take him on tour myself,” said the mayor.

Earlier Monday, at a press conference before the announcement of FEMA help, Spencer said that city resources were stretched and that “cities are not installed to combat disasters”.

“We are the poster child to explain why we need federal help in terms of natural disasters because we cannot assume this alone,” she said.

The storm of May 16 reduced a 22-mile path through the Saint-Louis region, damaging thousands of structures and killing five people in the city.

Kurt Erickson of Post-Dispatch contributed to this story.