Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disaster Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Louis City, SLPS approve extension for debris cleanup and host FEMA disaster-recovery sites
Summary
The St. Louis Public Schools board approved a city request to extend debris collection at district sites and ratified an agreement to host FEMA disaster-recovery centers at school properties, after city officials described cleanup protocols and community outreach plans.
The St. Louis Public Schools board on June 24 voted to approve a four-week extension to a memorandum of understanding with the City of Saint Louis for debris collection at school sites and ratified a separate agreement to host Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster-recovery centers (DRCs) at district properties.
The measures were presented by Casey Milberg, policy director in Mayor Spencer’s office, and Julian Nicks, deputy chief operating officer and operations chief for the city’s tornado disaster response, who described the plan for short- and longer-term recovery assistance and for completing site cleanup.
Milberg said the city secured a presidential disaster declaration on June 9 and that the DRCs will provide in-person help for residents applying for FEMA and SBA assistance. “We received the presidential disaster declaration on June 9,” Milberg said, and the city is transitioning from short-term disaster assistance centers to longer-term recovery centers in three impact zones to make application help available through the individual assistance period.
City officials said the DRCs will be staffed by FEMA, the Small Business Administration and city neighborhood specialists and will include tents with power, cooling, porta-potties and security. Officials also said one DRC already operating is at Union Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and that a school parking-lot site will open in the coming days; the sites are intended to make in-person assistance available in the areas most affected by the tornado.
On debris cleanup, Julian Nicks said the city asked for an extension to complete regulatory-required steps and on-site work. He said Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scheduling and site assessments affected the timeline and the four-week extension is intended to allow the city to complete work to DNR standards.
Board members pressed for details on dust control and hazardous-material protocols. Milberg said the city has performed air and material testing, is following DNR procedures and is using continuous wetting and other measures to limit airborne dust during removal. She also said the city would arrange street sweeping and site restoration as part of the cleanup commitment.
The board approved both motions without recorded opposition. The debris-extension motion and the FEMA-hosting MOU were approved in roll-call votes that recorded “yes” from all present board members.
Officials said the FEMA individual assistance application period runs through Aug. 11 and that the city will announce additional DRC locations and operating dates. Board members asked for ongoing timelines, documentation of DNR visits and updates on hazardous-material testing; city staff agreed to provide further scheduling and testing information to the district.
The votes follow weeks of city–district coordination after the May 16 tornado and come as district and city officials work to restore school buildings, stand up short-term aid and transition to longer-term recovery resources for families and staff.
