Disaster Relief

A coalition of north side churches will be one of the organizations to begin distributing state disaster relief money, starting with $50,000.

During the first meeting of the House Future Caucus in St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer said that without an immediate response from FEMA, the state will have to step up in instances of disaster.

Staff at the centers can help residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions and upload required documents.

The application deadline for tornado disaster aid in St. Louis has passed, but that doesn’t mean getting aid isn’t possible anymore. People whose original applications were denied can appeal their decision, and applying late is an option for some.

Mayor Cara Spencer asked FEMA officials Friday to consider a 30-day extension to allow more people to apply for emergency funds in the wake of the May 16 tornado that ripped through St. Louis.

Mayor Cara Spencer had requested a 60-day extension of the deadline, which was originally Aug. 11.

The funds can be used for home repairs and other needs. So far, nearly 7,000 applications have been approved.

After a tornado swept through the area just a month after Spencer took office, her original agenda was derailed. Here’s what she says accomplished, and struggled with, so far.

According to St. Louis city officials, over 780 businesses have reported damage from the May 16 tornado. Nearly one third of those businesses are in the 10th Ward.

The Nolan family faces a one-year wait before they can return to their north St. Louis home that was severely damaged by an EF3 tornado on May 16.