Congresswoman Bush Urges Missouri Governor to Request Federal Disaster Assistance
ST. LOUIS, MO— Following Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s executive order in response to severe flooding in the St. Louis region, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released the following statement urging the Governor to formally request federal resources for St. Louis. The recently issued executive order declaring a state of emergency serves as a first step in seeking a federal Major Disaster Declaration that unlocks federal emergency assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, a formal request to the Biden-Harris administration has not yet been announced. Earlier today, Congresswoman Bush spoke directly with Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe stressing the need to request federal support from President Biden so that FEMA can begin directly assisting the St. Louis community.
“Historic flooding left St. Louis underwater and our people are in need of immediate assistance. Overnight, many of our St. Louis community members have been forced from their homes, cars, and neighborhoods. My office has received non-stop calls from people requiring emergency services or from people who are unable to stay in their homes tonight. We are actively working around the clock to ensure that community members have access to the resources and services that they need during this emergency, and we are grateful for our community’s first responders who are doing life-saving work in the aftermath of extreme weather. But we need federal disaster resources and assistance right now.
“I have been in constant communication with the White House, who is closely monitoring the situation in our district, as well as with the Governor’s office and our St. Louis City and County leaders. It is clear that we need additional help to meet people’s needs now, and I am confident we can work across all levels of government to support a request from Governor Parson to unlock federal help.”
If St. Louis residents are in need of shelter, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or if someone in St. Louis is in immediate need of other resources, they can call the Congresswoman’s office at (202) 225-2406.
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Congresswoman Cori Bush sits on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, serves as the Progressive Caucus Deputy Whip, and proudly represents St. Louis as a politivist in the halls of the United States Congress.