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St. Louis County executive outlines tornado response, shelter reopening and recovery support
Summary
At the May 20 St. Louis County Council meeting, the County Executive reported on tornado cleanup and recovery, mutual aid with municipalities, warnings about disaster scammers, and the reopening of the County Animal Care and Control Adoption Center with a new foster pilot and fear-free certification.
St. Louis County Executive addressed the County Council on May 20 to provide an update on cleanup and recovery after a tornado that struck the region the previous Friday, saying the storm "began in Clayton and carved a path through Richmond Heights University Center and into the heart of the city of Saint Louis."
The update matters because the storm damaged homes, businesses and schools across multiple municipalities and required coordinated county and municipal response. The County Executive told the council that county Transportation, Public Works and Parks crews worked "alongside of municipal partners in Clayton, Richmond Heights and University City to clear roads blocked by downed trees and debris," and that restoring mobility was essential so emergency medical services could reach residents in need.
County crews were deployed immediately after the storm to clear roads and debris, the executive said, and county staff are coordinating with municipal crews to restore traffic signals and reopen affected corridors. He urged residents to treat intersections with inoperative street lights as four-way stops and said residents with debris on private property in unincorporated areas should contact their trash haulers for pickup. He said Jefferson Barracks and Tillis parks sustained "significant damage" but have since reopened, with cleanup continuing.
Addressing fraud risks after disasters, the County Executive relayed advice from local law enforcement: "As chief Gregory said yesterday, check with the Better Business Bureau and make sure that the company is licensed and bonded. Do not pay for any work until it's completed." He also thanked state and federal officials for advocacy on behalf of affected residents.
On animal services, the County Executive said the County Animal Care and Control Adoption Center has reopened. He described extensive disinfection and quarantine efforts and said that "no new cases of parvo virus have occurred since May 1." The shelter launched a pilot foster program beginning with staff and has expanded to include volunteers, with plans to open the program to the public. He added that staff and volunteers have completed "fear free" training and that Dr. Cunningham will present additional shelter details at the council's committee of the whole meeting next week.
The County Executive closed by distributing invitations for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new U.S. Handball Center in Hazelwood, scheduled next week, and thanked first responders, utility crews and volunteers for recovery efforts. The council received the report; no formal action was taken at the meeting on the matters reported.
