Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Tuesday, June 3, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that Missourians in six additional counties have now been approved to receive individual assistance.

"This is important news for these communities," said Bond. "This assistance will help folks with a number of expenses – including temporary housing, home repairs, medical costs, car repairs and replacement."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notified Bond's office this afternoon that 6 additional counties are now approved to receive individual assistance to help recover from the tornados that hit Missouri in early May. The following counties were approved today: Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Iron, Monroe and Phelps.

Since tornados swept through Missouri beginning May 4, Bond has worked to ensure that federal agencies quickly provide all available help to Missourians affected by the terrible storms. Along with Senator Talent, Bond sought and won very quick Presidential approval for emergency disaster declarations for a number of affected Missouri citizens, towns, counties and cities, and traveling with the President to tour disaster sites in Missouri.

Just last week, Bond announced that more than $8 million has been approved for tornado-damaged communities, expressing his expectation that aid will continue to flow, "Although the tornados and storms have passed, these communities will not be forgotten. I am confident that the dollars will continue to flow for families and communities hit hardest by the May tornados," said Bond.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.