Nixon says more funds on the way for 2011 flood repairs

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon made a stop in Southeast Missouri bringing good news for city and county officials: Additional funds to repair damage from last year's floods are on the way.

The state will provide nearly $1.5 million in additional assistance to help several Missouri towns and counties in repairing or replacing roads, bridges and other public infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the devastating floods of 2011. Mississippi, Pemiscot and Wayne counties as well as the towns of Bertrand, Big Lake, Craig, Glasgow, Hornersville and Morehouse will receive a total of $1,497,118 in Community Development Block Grant funding.

"Several Missouri counties endured devastating flooding during the spring and summer of 2011, and one year later, we continue to help local communities rebuild and restore," Nixon said. "This additional funding will help towns and counties across Missouri repair critical infrastructure damaged by the floods, such as roads, bridges and sewer systems. From the very beginning, I said we would continue to stand with the communities that were hit by disasters through the entire recovery process. Today's announcement shows that commitment continues unabated."

Eight of the nine projects announced today also are receiving supplement funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the CDBG funding awarded by the state of Missouri will help cover the total cost of each project. The counties receiving CDBG funding include:

* Mississippi County had two bridges and one county road that were significantly damaged by the floods. The county is receiving CDBG funding of $684,924 to replace bridges 310 and 312 and remove debris from both areas, and to repair County Road 310. The county also is receiving a matching FEMA grant of $1.9 million for the projects.

* Pemiscot County had two bridges and one county road significantly damaged. The county is receiving $258,059 in CDBG funds to replace bridges 232 and 234, and to repair County Road 344. Pemiscot County also is receiving a matching FEMA grant of $614,729.

In addition, the Governor announced block grant funding for six Missouri towns that experienced significant flooding last year. This includes:

* The city of Bertrand, which had damage to several city streets. Bertrand will receive $57,167 in CDBG funding for the needed repairs, plus a matching FEMA grant of $70,328.

* The city of Morehouse, which suffered damage to its sewer system. The city is receiving CDBG funding of $16,802 for the needed repairs, plus a matching FEMA grant of $26,332.

* The city of Hornersville, in Dunklin County, which sustained flood damage to city streets. Hornersville will receive $39,942 in CDBG funds to repair the streets, plus a matching FEMA grant of $58,026.

This funding is in addition to $4.6 million in CDBG funding already announced by Nixon to assist Missouri communities with flood recovery.