LOCAL AREAS NOT GETTING FLOOD AID YET

Cape Girardeau County wasn't among the 12 Missouri counties designated Friday to receive federal disaster assistance, but county and city officials weren't upset by the news.

"It's my understanding that FEMA has just made the first announcement," said J. Ronald Fischer, Cape Girardeau city manager.

In recommending which counties receive the presidential declaration as a disaster area, officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency haven't evaluated any counties south of Ste. Genevieve, Fischer said.

"I believe that the people from FEMA will be here Monday," said Brian Miller, coordinator of the county's emergency preparedness office. "So we haven't been slighted or anything. They just haven't evaluated us yet."

Officials from FEMA were unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

President Bill Clinton declared Benton, Boone, Cole, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Johnson, Miller, St. Charles, St. Clair, Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis counties disaster areas, opening the door to public assistance funds from the federal government.

"Additional counties may be added to the public assistance declaration requests as counties meet the criteria," a statement released by the Gov. Mel Carnahan's office said.

Public assistance funds provided by the federal government help local governments repair or replace roads, bridges and other public properties damaged by the flooding or other disaster.

Counties receiving the presidential declaration Friday are eligible for 75 percent of the approved costs for repairing or replacing those public facilities or removing debris to protect public property and the public health, according to a statement released by FEMA.

Other counties interested in disaster declarations include Scott and Mississippi counties in Missouri and Alexander County in Illinois.

DISASTER COUNTIES

Benton

Boone

Cole

Franklin

Gasconade

Jefferson

Johnson

Miller

St. Charles.

St. Calir

Ste. Genevieve

St. Louis