Hawley Requests Information on Missouri Tornado Relief After Reported Delays

Hawley Requests Information on Missouri Tornado Relief After Reported Delays

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Acting Administrator David Richardson following reports of delays in FEMA's response to the May 16, 2025 Missouri tornadoes.

Senator Hawley wrote, "I write regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the May 16, 2025 tornadoes in Missouri. St. Louis city officials have reported delays in the distribution of federal assistance. As you know, the President approved a major disaster declaration for the St. Louis region on June 9. Some reports indicate that various aspects of the approved aid, however, have yet to arrive."

He continued, "As Chair of the Subcommittee on Disaster Management, I request your help in gathering relevant information. You will agree, I know, that residents of disaster areas should receive approved federal assistance in a timely manner to ensure a swift recovery."

Senator Hawley concluded the letter by requesting specific information on FEMA's response to the St. Louis tornadoes.

Read the full letter here or below.

September 29, 2025

David Richardson
Acting Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
500 C St., S.W.
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Acting Administrator Richardson:

I write regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the May 16, 2025 tornadoes in Missouri. St. Louis city officials have reported delays in the distribution of federal assistance. As you know, the President approved a major disaster declaration for the St. Louis region on June 9. Some reports indicate that various aspects of the approved aid, however, have yet to arrive.

As Chair of the Subcommittee on Disaster Management, I request your help in gathering relevant information. You will agree, I know, that residents of disaster areas should receive approved federal assistance in a timely manner to ensure a swift recovery. Please provide the following information to the Subcommittee no later than October 6, 2025:

• How much FEMA aid has been provided to St. Louis to date pursuant to the June 2025 disaster declaration? How much aid remains to be provided? Please break down this information by specific recovery program.
  
  
• How many FEMA personnel were deployed to assist with recovery efforts in St. Louis? What were their specific roles?
  
  
• Has FEMA provided door-to-door services to help affected St. Louis residents apply for assistance? If not, why not?
  
  
• Has FEMA closed disaster-recovery facilities in St. Louis at which residents can apply for financial assistance? How long were these facilities operational?
  
  
• How is FEMA working to expedite deployment of federal resources to disaster areas, both in Missouri and in other affected regions?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley
United States Senator
Chair
Subcommittee on Disaster Management

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