Senator Josh Hawley is demanding immediate federal disaster relief as deadly tornadoes devastate Missouri and other Midwestern states.
At a Glance
- Tornadoes killed at least 26 people across several Midwestern states
- Senator Josh Hawley is urging urgent FEMA intervention for Missouri
- St. Louis saw damage to 5,000 buildings, with losses topping $1 billion
- Roughly 700,000 residents were left without power during the storm
- Federal disaster declaration still pending amid growing political scrutiny
Tornadoes Tear Through the Heartland
In the wake of violent tornadoes that ripped across the central United States, Senator Josh Hawley is calling for a swift federal response to aid victims and communities shattered by the storms. The series of twisters, stretching from Texas to Kentucky, have claimed at least 26 lives—including 19 in Kentucky—and left a swath of destruction that officials say will take years to fully repair.
Missouri was especially hard-hit. In St. Louis, city officials estimate that 5,000 buildings were damaged, with early assessments suggesting over $1 billion in total losses. Northern Texas faced softball-sized hail, while emergency response teams were overwhelmed as search-and-rescue operations continued. Hawley stressed the personal toll, noting, “These aren’t just pieces of real estate. These are homes where families have lived for generations.”
Watch a report: Sen. Hawley tours storm damage, pushes FEMA support.
FEMA in the Spotlight
As recovery begins, the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has come under renewed scrutiny. Hawley is pressing the Biden administration to issue a disaster declaration and mobilize FEMA’s full capabilities. “Unless they’re going to be rebuilt, the federal government is going to need to play a big role here with FEMA relief, disaster relief, and we want to get all of that as soon as possible,” he said in a statement from the scene in north St. Louis.
Despite the urgency, FEMA’s recent track record has fueled skepticism. Former President Donald Trump recently criticized the agency as “slow and totally ineffective,” adding that it “should be terminated” in favor of state-level storm responses. The debate has reignited questions over FEMA’s efficiency and responsiveness, particularly in politically charged regions.
Meanwhile, Hawley insists that immediate federal aid is essential. “FEMA needs to come in strong. And insurers need to pay claims IN FULL,” he wrote on social media following a tour of the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Communities in Crisis
Power outages affected approximately 700,000 people during the peak of the storm. Infrastructure damage triggered road closures and airport delays, compounding logistical hurdles for first responders. Relief hubs, such as one established in London, Kentucky, are struggling to meet surging demand for food, shelter, and medical care.
Local leaders, including St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer and London Mayor Randall Weddle, have described the situation as “pure destruction” and called for rapid deployment of both state and federal assistance. Hawley’s appeal underscores not just the economic scale of the disaster, but the human cost of delayed aid.
As rebuilding begins, Missouri and its neighbors face a long recovery—with federal action poised to determine the pace and scope of their return to normalcy.
