Households and businesses in southern Missouri affected by severe weather and flooding May 19-27 can apply for federal assistance, says Conne Burnham, University of Missouri Extension emergency management coordinator.

On July 23, President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration Request from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to help with costs associated with severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in May 2024.

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Related information: Spend Your FEMA Money Wisely (FEMA news release)

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Assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s Individuals and Households Program is available to homeowners, renters and self-employed business owners in Barry, Butler, Carter, Howell, New Madrid, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Texas counties. More information.

Individuals in those counties whose employment was lost or interrupted due to the severe weather and flooding can also apply for up to 35 weeks of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The Missouri Department of Labor will accept applications for DUA through Sept. 23. More information.

U.S. Small Business Administration Business and Home Disaster Loans are available to businesses, households and private nonprofit entities in those counties to repair or replace disaster-damaged property. Application deadline is Sept. 23. More information .

SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help small businesses and private nonprofit entities of all sizes meet financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. In addition to the 10 counties noted above, these loans are also available to eligible entities in the counties of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Mississippi, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Stone, Wayne and Wright. Application deadline is April 23, 2025. More information.

Recovery centers in Sikeston, Dexter

FEMA has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the Sikeston YMCA at 511 Taylor St. The center is a one-stop shop for disaster survivors who have applied with FEMA and need to provide additional documentation or just have questions about the status of their cases. The center is open Monday-Saturday until further notice. More information.

SBA has opened a Business Recovery Center on Southeast Missouri State University’s Sikeston campus, 2401 N. Main St., Room 114. SBA customer service representatives and business advisers from the SMSU Small Business Development Center will be on hand to provide a wide range of services to affected businesses. More information.

Another Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Dexter at the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Building, 105 E. North Main St. The center provides storm survivors with face-to-face assistance from FEMA and SBA. Services include help with FEMA applications, status updates and disaster loan applications. The center is open Monday through Saturday with varying hours and is free for all disaster survivors. More information.

Other resources

• Missouri Disaster Declaration map.
• Severe weather resources from MU Extension.
• Missouri Extension Disaster Education Network. Includes resources on replacing your trees after a storm.