In the months following the historic tornadoes and flooding that ripped across the great state of Missouri, I joined my Missouri congressional colleagues to work hand-in-hand with federal, state and local officials to ensure our communities get the vital resources they need to continue rebuilding. Recently, the entire Missouri congressional delegation sent a letter urging President Trump to support the governor’s disaster declaration request for the counties affected by recent severe weather.

Less than two weeks later, Missourians have received Presidential approval of the disaster declaration, providing numerous counties in Missouri’s Third Congressional District with the Federal funding they need. As additional damage assessment information is received and validated, other counties could be added to the approved disaster declaration.

Now that President Trump has approved the declaration in Cole, Lincoln, Miller, Osage, and St. Charles’ counties, property owners and renters can now apply for federal disaster assistance. This assistance includes help with temporary repairs, other short-term living arrangements, and additional disaster-related needs not currently met with other programs.

To begin the recovery process, first make sure to call your insurance company to get more information on your policy. Many traditional homeowners, renters or flood insurance policies will cover certain losses. In addition, make sure to document all damage. This includes a list of damaged items as well as photo and video documentation.

It is free to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which can be done in approximately 20 minutes online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-FEMA. In order to register you must provide your current address, the address of the damaged property, contact information, social security number, the number of people in your household, as well as insurance and income information.

The next step is to schedule an appointment with a contracted FEMA inspector who will assess whether the damage is eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. It is important to note that all FEMA inspections are free of charge and all inspectors will have FEMA photo identification badges. Unfortunately, there are some bad actors out there trying to take advantage of people in need of help, so please stay vigilant. Be ready to provide the inspector with photo identification, proof of ownership/occupancy, and insurance documents. Following the inspector walk-through, a determination of eligibility or assistance amount will not be immediately available. An eligibility decision will be mailed to you in the form of a letter, typically seven to ten days after the inspection.

The FEMA disaster assistance process can be confusing or intimidating, but my office is here to help you navigate the process. Feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at 573-635-7232 with any questions regarding FEMA disaster assistance. You may also contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or on FEMA.gov.

Missourians are resilient and thanks to this much-needed support from President Trump, our neighbors, loved ones and friends will now have the resources they need to continue rebuilding in the face of devastation. I will continue working alongside state and local officials to ensure our communities come back stronger than ever before.