U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt have called on President Donald Trump to approve an emergency disaster declaration for Missouri, following severe storms and tornadoes that struck the St. Louis region on May 16, 2025. In a letter sent to the president, the senators emphasized the urgency of unlocking federal funding to aid state and local efforts in debris removal and emergency protective measures.
"If approved, this declaration would immediately unlock critical funding to support state and local efforts," stated Hawley and Schmitt. They highlighted their firsthand experience of touring the affected neighborhoods, noting "the scale of the damage" as evidence for the necessity of Governor Mike Kehoe's request for federal assistance.
The proposed emergency designation is aimed at addressing immediate needs while assessments are conducted for a broader disaster declaration. Senator Hawley has been actively involved in assessing damage in St. Louis and assisting constituents with insurance claims through a portal on his website.
The letter details that seven lives were lost due to the storms, which caused significant destruction across St. Louis and southeast Missouri. The preliminary damage assessments are scheduled to begin soon as part of preparations for a major disaster declaration request by Governor Kehoe.
The senators concluded their letter by urging President Trump for prompt consideration and approval of Missouri's emergency declaration request.
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