The city of St. Louis has received a $2.9 million federal grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue long-term recovery services for residents affected by the May 16 tornado.
The grant will fund 10 disaster case managers through June 2027 and could allow the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency to expand the program by hiring 14 additional case managers, bringing the total to 24 to help meet continuing demand for assistance.
City officials said case managers have been working with about 1,200 households, with new applications arriving each week. Their work had been supported by interest earned on the Rams settlement fund, which was expected to be depleted in August.
The city submitted its application for disaster case management funding in September 2025. The award follows Mayor Cara Spencer’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she met with Missouri’s congressional delegation to request additional federal assistance.
“Our residents are at the heart of this recovery, and every family deserves the support they need to recover and hopefully return to the neighborhoods they call home,” Spencer said.
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency submitted the FEMA application and will oversee the program. According to SEMA, the additional positions would help accommodate the high volume of incoming requests for assistance. The United Way of Greater St. Louis will administer the grant and coordinate services with the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, LifeWise STL and HOPE. The federal funding becomes available Aug. 1.