Federal disaster area expanded

The federal disaster area in Southeast Missouri expanded to include six more counties effected by recent tornadoes.

Victims in Andrew, Butler, Dunklin, Pettis, St. Francois and Stoddard Counties now qualify for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistant programs, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.

"It is clear that the victims of the tornado reside both inside and outside the original counties of the disaster declaration, Emerson said in the release. "Expanding the disaster area will open up federal programs to assist the recovery effort to everyone who needs help."

Emerson was also urging FEMA to deploy an Emergency Support Function for Long Term Community Recovery in the Caruthersville, Mo. area, which was heavily damaged by an F-3 tornado earlier this month.