• August 26 is the deadline to submit your FEMA Individual Assistance application if you live in St. Louis City or St. Louis County and sustained damage from the May 16 disaster.
• If your damage is not covered by insurance, FEMA may assist with home repairs, temporary living, essential personal property, and more. FEMA assistance does not need to be repaid.
• The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362

Two Disaster Recovery Centers are still open in St. Louis City with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration staff helping impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answering questions, and uploading required documents. These centers have had more than 7,800 visits. 

Apply for assistance and stay in touch with FEMA by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

▪ Keep receipts for disaster-related purchases (items to make repairs to home, hotel receipts, etc.).

▪ Provide contractor estimates for repairs.

▪ Stay in touch with FEMA about your needs caused by the disaster.

▪ Help is still available after the deadline, but you need to apply before the deadline

▪    FEMA has provided about $36 million to homeowners and renters.

                 o $4.2 million of this amount is being paid by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

▪    About 7,800 households have been approved for assistance.

▪    A home inspection is required for FEMA to approve money.

                 o FEMA has completed about 12,400 home inspections.

▪    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $15.5 million in low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners,

      renters and businesses of all sizes recover from the disaster.

                 o You can apply for these loans through https://lending.sba.gov.

▪   St. Louis City has launched new recovery programs to assist residents impacted by the May 16 tornado. These programs address urgent repair            needs, provide trusted technical guidance, and protect homeowners from fraud or further damage.

▪   Four initiatives are underway:

      o Emergency Stabilization

      o Electricity Reconnection

      o Ask an Architect

      o Contractor Registry

      o For details, visit: New Recovery Programs for St. Louisans

▪   Visit the St. Louis City’s STLRECOVERS.com for more response and recovery resources.

▪   FEMA inspectors may call you from an unknown number to schedule an inspection or to obtain more information to process your application. It is          important to answer the call.

      o If you don’t recognize the number, you may call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to verify the call.

      o This inspection is required for FEMA to verify damage reported on your application.

      o FEMA inspectors will know your FEMA case number, present their FEMA ID, and never ask for or accept money.

▪    FEMA will send you a letter by mail or email.

▪    Read the letter carefully. If the letter from FEMA says your application cannot be approved, it does not mean you’re denied. The letter will explain         how to appeal the decision.

▪    If you have insurance, FEMA will not be able to consider you for assistance until you provide insurance documentation, such as a settlement letter       or denial letter.

▪    You can track your application and upload documents through FEMA’s online system. To do this, create an online account by visiting                             DisasterAssistance.gov..

•    If you disagree with FEMA’s decision on your application, you may appeal.

•    Submit an appeal form or write an appeal letter within 60 days of the date of the decision letter.

•    To appeal and submit documentation, you may visit a Disaster Recovery Center or go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.

The SBA’s Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) and Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) serve as a one stop shop for disaster assistance. These centers provide in-person support with SBA disaster loan applications, help applicants check their loan status, and offer guidance on funds available to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters impacted in a declared disaster area. SBA representatives are also in all Disaster Recovery Centers. The deadline to submit your loan application is August 26.