Mo. Governor Seeks Federal Help to Recover from Rare Winter Tornadoes

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is seeking federal help recovering from a storm that churned up rare winter tornadoes.

Two people died, 30 others were injured and more than 400 homes were damaged in the storms that started the afternoon of Jan. 7.

The governor is seeking individual or public assistance or a combination of both for 15 counties. The individual assistance would provide disaster grants or low-interest loans to individuals and businesses to help recover uninsured losses. The public assistance would reimburse communities for providing emergency services, making repairs and cleaning up debris.

Counties named in the request are: Barry, Christian, Dallas, Greene, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Maries, McDonald, Newton, Phelps, Pulaski, Stone, Taney and Webster.