Show-Me State Times

The City of St. Louis - Community Development Administration (CDA) is gearing up to host two community engagement events focused on long-term flood recovery efforts following the severe storms and flash floods that hit the region in July 2022.

An in-person Community Open House is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Wohl Recreation Center. According to city officials, this event aims to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery CDBG-DR program and share their feedback and experiences from the 2022 flooding. City staff will be making presentations at 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM during the Open House.

In addition to the in-person event, a virtual Lunch and Learn session will be held on Friday, March 29, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Participants will have the chance to hear presentations from city officials, ask questions, and engage in discussions about flood resilience planning.

HUD allocated approximately $25 million in CDBG-DR funds to support the long-term recovery efforts in St. Louis. The City is prioritizing community engagement opportunities for residents impacted by the flood to participate in the planning process for the funds.

Residents are encouraged to attend these events, where their insights will help guide and prioritize potential City programs, including a Home Repair Program, Subsistence Grant/Car Replacement Fund, Flood Plain Management initiatives, a Potential Home Buyout Program, and Flood Response Capacity measures.

The Community Open House and the virtual meeting aim to help CDA identify the unmet needs of residents, which are crucial for developing funding priorities. City residents are also urged to participate in the Unmet Needs Assessment Survey to share how flash flooding has impacted them and assist in shaping the funding priorities.

The Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program is essential for aiding cities in recovering from major disasters, focusing on long-term recovery, infrastructure restoration, housing, and economic revitalization. The City of St. Louis is currently undergoing a detailed planning process to identify unmet needs and develop eligible projects and activities, with an estimated timeline spanning from Winter 2023/24 through Fall 2024.