In a Saturday statement, Congressman Wesley Bell said he is “heartbroken for the families who lost loved ones.”
He also said the reported tornados should be a signal to the region to improve its infrastructure.
“This can’t just be about picking up the pieces—we’ve got to make our infrastructure stronger, invest in resilience, and make sure our communities are better prepared for the next time,” Bell said.
“At least five lives have been lost, homes torn apart, roads blocked, and thousands still without power. For the folks [who awoke] to damage they can’t afford to fix. For the people still waiting on the lights to come back on – this is a heavy moment for our region, and we’re feeling it together.
“To everyone hurting right now: you’re not alone. We’re in this together, we’ll clean up together, and we’ll fight together to make sure St. Louis comes back stronger than ever.”