Nixon declares emergency from drought, heat

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect that Nixon declared a state of emergency, not a disaster declaration.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared an emergency because of the recent drought.

The state emergency declaration Monday allows state agencies to help local officials respond to the drought and heat. Nixon says state health officials have confirmed 25 heat-related deaths, including 20 in the St. Louis area. Health officials report that there have been 829 heat-related trips to hospital emergency rooms.

Nixon says farmers also are facing significant losses to crop and livestock and fire remains a risk. He says state officials are monitoring how the drought is affecting public water supplies.