Mo. Governor Seeks Disaster Declaration for Counties Affected by Ice Storms

Gov. Matt Blunt is seeking a federal disaster declaration for public aid to 42 counties as a result of winter storms that hit Missouri this month.

Blunt said that preliminary inspections found more than $28 million in damage to public infrastructure in 42 counties.

The governor has asked President Bush to approve public assistance for those counties and a hazard mitigation grant for the entire state.

The ice and snow storms knocked out power to more than 170,000 customers. Eighty-seven shelters and warming stations were set up to help those displaced from their homes.

Blunt’s letter to the president says it will be difficult for state and local governments to recover from the storm damage without immediate federal aid.

If the disaster request is approved, governments can be reimbursed for emergency protection actions, repair or replacement of damaged infrastructure and debris removal.

The counties included in the public assistance request are: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cedar, Clinton, Cole, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Jasper, Lincoln, Linn, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Osage, Pike, Putnam, St. Clair, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, Warren and Worth.

The governor’s office said other counties may be added to the request as more damage information is collected.