St Louis Mayor Urges FEMA Aid After Deadly Billion-Dollar Tornado

Following a devastating EF3 tornado that caused approximately $1 billion in damage and killed at least five people in St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer has urgently called for federal assistance, emphasizing that local and state resources alone are insufficient to handle the crisis. Despite the severity of the destruction, FEMA has yet to deploy personnel on the ground, even days after the disaster, prompting criticism of federal response delays and the current administration's stance on FEMA's role. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has requested a federal Emergency Declaration and engaged directly with President Donald Trump and federal officials to expedite aid, while Senator Josh Hawley has pressured the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize disaster declaration approvals. Mayor Spencer highlighted the critical need for national-level support not only for St. Louis but also for other affected areas, including Kentucky and Virginia, where tornadoes also caused significant fatalities and damage. The mayor also noted that the local community and other government levels are actively responding, but the scale of destruction requires immediate federal intervention. Meanwhile, FEMA's capacity has been questioned amid staffing cuts and leadership comments suggesting the agency may be phased out, raising concerns about preparedness for ongoing and future disasters.