Trump approves major disaster declaration for Missouri

Published 4:17 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2026

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Missouri, making federal assistance available to help the state recover from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that struck between June 4 and June 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced.

The declaration unlocks Public Assistance funding, which reimburses state and local governments, along with certain private nonprofit organizations, on a cost-sharing basis for emergency response work and the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged in the storms. The program typically covers debris removal, emergency protective measures, and rebuilding of infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and public buildings.

Thirty-four Missouri counties are currently eligible for the assistance, including Knox, Lewis, Marion, and Shelby counties.

FEMA named Catherine O. Fan as federal coordinating officer to oversee recovery operations in the affected areas. The agency said additional counties could be added to the declaration if the state requests further assistance and subsequent damage assessments support it.

A major disaster declaration is issued by the president under the Stafford Act and represents a formal determination that a disaster is beyond the combined response capabilities of state and local governments, triggering federal aid to supplement recovery efforts.