Hawley Secures Pledge from Noem to Expedite Relief for Missourians After Devastating Storms

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Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Less than 24 hours aftervisiting St. Louisto survey the devastating storm damage from Friday’s tornadoes, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)secured a pledgefrom Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem – who oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – to expedite relief for Missouri storm victims. The exchange comes after Missouri was rocked by tornadoes this spring and lost many lives in a span of two months.
Good news for Missourians who need help after Friday’s terrible storms:DHS Secretary Noem just pledged to expedite our state's disaster request & the FEMA emergency response in St. Louispic.twitter.com/tlwL6jlRhz
In the hearing, Senator Hawley detailed thedebilitating stormsthat took the lives of 7 Missourians on Friday and left behind more than$1.6 billion in property damage.He also noted that this is not the only lethal storm to hit the state in recent weeks.
“The state has pending three requests for major disaster relief declarations from earlier storms. Counting the people we lost on Friday, we’ve lost almost twenty people now in major storms in the last two months in Missouri. It’s been a terrible spring for us,”saidSenator Hawley. “For those three disaster declaration requests that are still pending, will you help with those and get those approved? We are desperate for the assistance in Missouri.”
“Yes, absolutely,”promised Secretary Noem.
Secretary Noem pledged that she would expedite individual assistance for affected Missourians and review of the state’s requested disaster declarations. She also promised shewould workwith Senator Hawley, who chairs the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, to ensure FEMA provides Missourians with the necessary assistance in the aftermath of the storms.
“Can you commit to, as we deal with this disaster in St. Louis and others around the state, that under your leadership, FEMA is going to act with expedition, they are going to be clear in the communications, and they are going to follow up and give Missourians the awards they need if they qualify for it?”asked Senator Hawley.
“Yes, that has been the biggest challenge of FEMA in the past – the delayed response. People are counting on the assistance and it never comes through, and the paperwork is too complicated for an individual many times to complete on their own – they need help and assistance. That is part of the reforms that the FEMA Review Board will be undertaking,”Secretary Noemanswered.

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