Despite suffering damage to its own headquarters, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis became an early lifeline for displaced North St. Louis families after the May 16 tornado, placing hundreds in hotels, distributing food and helping residents navigate the storm’s aftermath.
Among those helped was Roosevelt Price, a Ward 12 resident who, along with his fiancée, Shakkia Miller, and 9-year-old son, lost his home.
“It wasn’t until we got back to the place where our home was that it started to sink in that we don’t have anywhere to live tonight,” Price said. “It was complete chaos and we ended up sleeping in our cars that night.”
Price said hotel stays cost the family nearly $2,000 in the days after the storm.
“I didn’t think the Urban League would be able to come through like they did because the headquarters was damaged,” he said. “They didn’t have power, so to see them out helping a day or two after the tornado speaks volumes because they were affected just like us.”
The tornado caused roof and water damage at the Urban League’s headquarters, leaving parts of the building without power.
The Urban League said its tornado response over the last year included distributing more than 1 million pounds of food valued at $2.7 million, investing more than $3 million in direct assistance to more than 40,000 residents and placing 750 displaced families in hotels.
“For the last year, we have seen the utter devastation in North St. Louis even to our headquarters,” Urban League President and CEO Michael P. McMillan said. “As a result, we have worked constantly over the last year to assist the community.”
The organization helped the Price family get a three-month hotel stay, meals, Christmas gift cards and furniture for temporary housing. It is also helping them search for permanent housing.
Price said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Red Cross also provided assistance. He described the overall recovery process as slow and exhausting.
For residents like Pat Miller of Fountain Park, recovery has stretched on for months with little sense of closure. Miller said she has been unable to live in her home since the tornado damaged the roof and a back wall. She estimated repairs could exceed $300,000.
“We should be a priority. This is our neighborhood,” Miller said. “We have been overlooked for so many years.”
A July report prepared for the St. Louis Board of Aldermen found that 1,260 properties still had unaddressed storm damage as of July 1.
The Urban League plans to continue its recovery efforts this week with debris cleanup Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a hiring and resource fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The organization also plans to distribute food, toiletries and household supplies Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., followed Sunday by deliveries of food and other resources to seniors and disabled residents.
For Price, whose temporary housing assistance is nearing its end, recovery remains ongoing nearly a year after the tornado.
“I can’t speak for any other Urban League in any other city,” he said, “but what I’ve seen for myself and what the Urban League is doing for my family here in St. Louis, there’s no other organization that I think can stand side by side with the Urban League with all they have done to help us through the May 16 tornado.”
A Weekend of Service
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will host several events marking the one-year anniversary of the May 16, 2025 tornado.
- Friday, May 15, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. — Disaster cleanup. Meet at Urban League headquarters, 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. Information: 314-615-3600.
- Friday, May 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Restoring Hope Hiring and Resource Fair at Urban League headquarters, 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. Information: 314-658-9303.
- Saturday, May 16, noon-3 p.m. — Distribution of food, toiletries and household essentials at Urban League headquarters, 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. Information: 314-615-3600.
- Sunday, May 17 — Home resource delivery for senior citizens and disabled residents. Information: 314-391-5688
St. Louis American reporter Ashley Winters and Kenya Vaughn contributed to this report.