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Missouri/USDA meetings on flood recovery

USDA agencies in Missouri are holding meetings this week for farmers, landowners and local governments that have damages from the intense rain and flooding that took place in Missouri in late December and early January. Harold Deckerd, with the Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service, says the NRCS, Farm Service Agency, Rural Development and Risk Management Agencies will have representatives at the meetings to explain flood recovery assistance options for the various damages, such as, “Reports of a few levee breaks – we may be able to assist with. We’re limited to a drainage area of 400 square miles. Log jams, debris removal from streams. I think we’ve heard several applicants say they have that.”

Deckerd says the meetings will be held where the biggest impact was felt, “A path of rainfall that was probably 60 miles wide that would – if you envisioned I-44, it was pretty well around that I-44 corridor.” The area got between eight and 10 inches of rain in about three days.

The first meeting will be Wednesday in Springfield at the Missouri Conservation Department Nature Center at 9 a.m. The second will be in Rolla at 2 pm Wednesday at the Comfort Suites Conference Center. The third will be this Thursday in Union, Missouri at 9:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus building. Those who can’t attend are urged to call their FSA county office.

Missouri NRCS – Flood relief meetings