Cleanup from storm continues without FEMA, SBA support

Illinois' governor submitted an appeal Friday to FEMA's rejection of a request by the state for a federal disaster declaration and aid while Southeast Missouri continued cleaning up from the Feb. 29 tornado outbreak after also being denied aid.

FEMA denied declarations for Missouri and Illinois last week after damage assessments were completed in areas hit by National Weather Service-confirmed tornadoes of strengths varying from EF1 to EF4. Missouri has not filed an appeal.

In northern Cape Girardeau County, an EF2 tornado damaged buildings and sports fields on the Oak Ridge School District campus and numerous homes and agricultural buildings, such as barns and sheds.

At the time that FEMA and the state emergency management agency were conducting assessments, county emergency management director Richard Knaup said that the effect of the storms would likely be bad on the agricultural community because so many outbuildings and equipment were damaged and it would take time for residents to get back on track.

Knaup said he was hopeful, however, that the effect would be minimized because most, if not all, people with damage to homes and farms were insured.

FEMA's director said decisions based on the assessments take into account how many people with damages were insured, how well local emergency management can handle a situation and the contributions available from communities.

Missouri has received a federal disaster declaration and assistance from FEMA every year in the past decade except 2005 for recovery from weather events.

The U.S. Small Business Administration on Thursday released a list of 14 counties in the state that can receive financial assistance in storm recovery. Cape Girardeau County and other Southeast Missouri counties were not on the list.

Knaup said Friday that he was waiting for information from the SBA concerning Cape Girardeau County, but did not return a call Friday afternoon.

The SBA will offer low-interest loans to qualified homeowners, renters, businesses and private not-for-profit organizations with eligible losses in counties in western and southern parts of the state. Nixon requested a disaster declaration from the SBA on Tuesday for 18 counties, including four in Southeast Missouri, according to a news release from his office.

In the Oak Ridge School District, repairs are ongoing to fences, a concession stand and some buildings damaged in the storm. Superintendent Dr. Gerald Landewee said work is ongoing on the school's baseball fields, and the roof of the gymnasium has been sealed several times with rubber roofing material after the wind blew air conditioning units across, creating several holes. Some work has been delayed by rain and the gym has had some leaks, but Landewee said the problems are manageable.

The school district's insurance company has not yet released a total dollar amount for the damage.

Some work to repair windows in the school buildings will be done when students are on break or during summer vacation in order to minimize disruption, Landewee said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

eragan@semissourian.com

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Oak Ridge, MO