As the waters recede from the record flooding Missouri experienced this spring, residents and businesses have been left with millions of dollars in damages, and Missourians are coming together to recover. The entire Missouri state government is committed to working with the federal and local government agencies, as well as businesses, non-profits, and individual citizens to accelerate the recovery effort. As part of that commitment, this website was created as a single source to help you easily and quickly find the information and disaster-related resources that you need.
Latest Recovery Updates:
MARCs are open TODAY from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. in Franklin and Oregon counties. Check the schedule for the four remaining MARCs in Gainesville (Ozark County) and House Springs (Jefferson County) on TUESDAY; Doniphan (Ripley County) on WEDNESDAY; and Arnold (Jefferson County) on THURSDAY.
There are 10 SEMA/FEMA Disaster Assessment Teams are working with local emergency managers to survey damage in preparation for a federal disaster declaration request from Gov. Greitens. Learn about the damage assessment process here.
Through Friday, more than 1,200 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims were being processed, representing almost $11.3 million in structural damage and almost $2.4 million in content losses in Missouri. Advance payments total over $2.5 million to meet the immediate needs of policy holders.
Winters in Missouri bring the potential for dangerous snow and ice storms, which can lead to hazardous driving conditions, the loss of heat and electricity and other risks to life and safety. Extended periods of sub- freezing temperatures can also pose hazards. The best way to prepare is to plan ahead and follow local weather forecasts and news reports. Also, think about the winter hazards discussed here and select an icon to learn more.
Winter Driving Safety
When it’s snowing or a major snowstorm is in the forecast, there’s nothing more important for your safety and the safety or others than the decisions you make about driving. Avoiding a non-essential trip during a snowstorm might not only prevent a traffic crash, it can allow road crews to clear roads more quickly and keep you from becoming stranded. Before hitting the road, decide whether the trip is necessary. If you must drive when it’s snowing, here are some safety tips from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Follow the local weather forecast and traffic reports. Plan travel during times when snow or icing are not in the forecast. Avoid unnecessary travel.
Reduce speed and increase following distance. Drive based on conditions, NOT the posted speed limit.
Focus 100 percent on driving because you have less control of your vehicle and less visibility. Use your headlights to increase your visibility to other drivers.
Understand that bridges and overpasses often ice over sooner than other parts of the road.
Place an ice scraper, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-perishable food, flashlight, and a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk.
Keep you gas tank at least half full.
Travel with a fully charged cell phone. Park your vehicle before calling if you need help. *55 on a cellular phone connects you to the closest Missouri State Highway Patrol headquarters.
Clear your vehicle’s windows completely before driving to ensure visibility.
Never overreact or slam on the brakes. If you begin to slide, steer in the direction of the slide to regain control of the vehicle.
Understand 4-wheel-drive vehicles may provide extra traction to get a vehicle moving in snow, but they are not better at braking or handling turns.
If you must travel in a snow storm, let others know about your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
If you become stranded in deep snow and are idling the engine to keep warm, be sure to keep the area around the tailpipe clear to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning inside the vehicle. Also, open a window slightly to let in fresh air.
What to Do if you Get Stranded
Staying in your vehicle when stranded is often the safest choice if winter storms create visibility so poor that you can’t see or if roadways are ice covered. These steps will increase your safety when stranded:
Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna as a signal to rescuers.
Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area.
Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing or blankets.
Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems.
Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe—this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation and stay warmer.
Do not eat unmelted snow because it will lower your body temperature.
Huddle with other people for warmth.
Staying Safe in Your Home during a Winter Power Outage
The loss of power and heat for extended periods during a winter storm can create potential safety risks in your home. As families prepare to use generators and alternate heat sources to keep warm, it is essential that they are aware of the risks and hazards to ensure personal safety.
If you lose heat to your home, temporarily close off less essential rooms and remain in one area of the residence. Keep warm by wearing several layers of clothing, gloves and a wool hat. Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Flashlights and battery-powered lighting should be kept in the home and ready to use during a power outage. NEVER use candles as a light source. Generators should never be operated indoors and must be well vented to prevent fumes from entering a home.
When using kerosene heaters maintain ventilation to avoid a build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects. If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
Whenever an ice storm or some other weather event has the potential to knock out power, charge your family’s cell phones to make sure you’ll have a way to communicate and get information if power is lost.
Extended exposure to extremely cold temperatures, particularly if there are high winds, can present serious health hazards. During bitter cold temperatures it’s important to make trips outdoors as brief as possible and to remember these safety tips.
Dress Warmly and Stay Dry
Begin by dressing correctly for the cold. Several layers of loose-fitting clothing is a good way to start. Then remember the following: a hat; a scarf or knit mask to cover your face and mouth; sleeves that are snug at the wrist; mittens, which are warmer than gloves; and a water-resistant coat and boots.
An outer layer that is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, will reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Understanding Frostbite and Hypothermia
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.
When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.
Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.
Staying Safe When Shoveling Snow
Check with your doctor. Because shoveling can place high stress on the heart, speak with your physician first. If you have a medical condition or do not exercise regularly, consider hiring someone to remove the snow.
Dress appropriately. Light, layered, water-repellent clothing provides both ventilation and insulation. It is also important to wear the appropriate head coverings, as well as mittens or gloves and thick, warm socks. Avoid falls by wearing shoes or boots that have slip-resistant soles. Take a break if you feel yourself getting too hot or too cold.
Watch for ice patches and uneven surfaces. Make sure that your hat or scarf does not block your vision. Be aware of your surroundings and alert for snow plows if you go into the street to dig out a vehicle.
Clear snow early and often. Begin when a light covering of snow is on the ground to avoid trying to clear packed, heavy snow. Take frequent breaks and replenish fluids to prevent dehydration. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack, seek emergency care
When possible, push the snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, take small amounts of snow, and lift it with your legs: Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift by straightening your legs, without bending at the waist. Then walk to where you want to dump the snow; holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine.
Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.
Use a shovel that is comfortable for your height and strength. Do not use a shovel that is too heavy or too long for you. Consider buying a shovel that is specially designed to prevent too much stooping. Space your hands on the tool grip to increase your leverage.
Winter Ice and Water Safety
What may appear to be frozen over lakes or ponds can be inviting spots for ice skaters and children who would like to explore during Missouri’s winter months. Even in bitter cold temperatures, ice conditions on bodies of water can be extremely uncertain. The only guaranteed safe skating ice is at a skating rink.
Ice found on natural bodies of water raises the risk of danger due to natural variables. There is no way to judge the strength and safety of ice by looking at it or by the temperature of the day. Fluctuating temperatures, exposure to sunlight and other factors affect the consistency of the ice. It can be a several inches thick in one spot and only an inch thick 10 feet away.
Be especially wary of ice covered with snow. Snow can hide cracks and weaknesses in open ice. Parents should educate their children about the danger of going out onto a frozen body of water, including never following a friend or a pet into these potential danger zones.
By using data made available through this site, the user agrees to all the conditions stated in the following paragraphs as well as the terms and conditions described under the State of Missouri Privacy Policy. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. While the owners of the data will take care to refrain from changes to the data format or schemas, there may be an occasional need to change the data format or schema as the data is modified and/or updates or addendums to the data are completed. It is understood that the information contained in the site is being used at one’s own risk.
Source Data
Applications using data supplied by this site must include the following disclaimers on their sites:
“The data made available here has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. It is understood that the information contained in the Web feed is being used at one’s own risk.”
Right to Modify and/or Discontinue Feeds
The State of Missouri reserves the right to modify and/or discontinue providing any or all of the data feeds at any time and to require the termination of any and all displaying, distributing or otherwise using any or all of the data for any reason including, without limitation, your violation of any provision of these Terms of Use.
Privacy Policy
Oct 11, 2011
It’s important that you understand our privacy position. As a state government, the State of Missouri is a public governmental body subject to Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, commonly known as the Sunshine Law. If an appropriate request is made to this office for information that is subject to disclosure by the Sunshine Law, the State of Missouri will be required to disclose the information requested, even if it may include your personally identifiable information.
There are various locations on the State of Missouri web sites where you may submit registration information. In order to complete your online transactions, we usually must collect information from you, including your e-mail address, your postal address, an identification number or social security number, or other pieces of personal information. Our online forms should indicate the information that is required and the information that is optional-you do not have to complete any “optional” fields on a form. For us to be able to complete your online transactions, however, you must supply the required information. The personal information that you supply will not be sold to others.
Browsing
To ensure our system remains available to all visitors, our operating system tracks unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or that can otherwise cause damage.
While you browse the web site our operating system will automatically record the following information:
The name of the domain from which you accessed our web site. For example, if you are connecting from an America Online account, the fact that someone who visited this web site uses AOL as an Internet service provider will be known, but the individual e-mail address of the user will not be known.
The date and time any page on our site was accessed.
The address (also called the URL) of the web site from which any page on this site was linked. For example, if you clicked on a hyperlink on the Office of Administration web site to reach the State of Missouri web site, that fact is recorded. However, as discussed above, your identity remains unknown.
The type of browser being used, such as “Netscape Version X.X” or “Internet Explorer Version X.X”.
The type of operating system you use such as Macintosh, Unix, or Windows.
This tracking system does NOT record information about individuals. This information is used to monitor traffic and improve this site.
Security
For security purposes, the State of Missouri uses network monitoring software to identify unauthorized access to or tampering with our web site. The software will not collect any personal information. If unauthorized access to or tampering with this web site is detected, the information gathered by us will be furnished to the proper authorities.
E-mail
If you send us e-mail, the message will usually contain your return address. If you include personal information in your e-mail, we may use that information in responding to your request. E-mail is not necessarily secure or confidential. Send only the information that is necessary for us to answer your question or process your request.
Requests for Information
There are various locations on the State of Missouri web site where you may request that information, such as applications, be mailed to you. Should you make a request for information, the personally identifiable information you disclose as part of making that request is disclosed to staff at the Office of Administration so that your request may be fulfilled.
Cookies
The State of Missouri uses Google Analytics to provide additional information about how you use our site. Google will put persistent cookies on your browser to help us know how people use our site. These cookies collect anonymous traffic data; no personal information is kept via cookies. If you block cookies from Google, you can still view our content, but we will not be able to use information from your visit to improve our site. Learn more about Google Analytics cookies.
Links to Other Sites
Our site provides links to other web sites. The privacy policies described here do NOT apply to any external sites. Read the privacy policies of other sites you visit. Be informed. You are the person best qualified to protect your own privacy.
For More Information
If you have any questions or comments about our privacy policy, contact the webmaster.
Tourism & Recreation
Aug 17, 2011
Find Missouri Fun
Welcome to Missouri, we hope you Enjoy the Show! Check out VisitMo.com, the official website for the Missouri Division of Tourism, for all the resources you need to plan your Missouri adventure, whether you’re interested in arts and culture, family fun, sports and gaming, outdoor recreation, or nightlife and entertainment. And be sure to check out our Trip Ideas page to view the best Missouri destinations and getaways.
Arts & culture – Search for museums, galleries and live theater
Entertainment – Search for sports events, live music, dinner theater and casinos
Family fun – Search for zoos, museums, and amusement parks
Food & Drink – Explore restaurants, wineries and breweries
Sightseeing – Visit Missouri landmarks and historic sites
Go Outside
You’ll never tire of the outdoor activities available in Missouri. Get everything you need to start your outdoor adventure, from camping to fishing to hiking to hunting.
Missouri state parks and historic sites provides recreational opportunities for enjoying the state’s most outstanding natural landscapes and cultural landmarks.
Conservation areas in Missouri protect our state’s wild resources and helping Missourians connect with their natural heritage, sustaining diverse, healthy plant and animal communities now and for the future.
Whether you want to visit a winery, pick out the perfect pumpkin or get lost in a corn maze, check out all Missouri has to offer for families looking for fun on the farm.
Children benefit physically, mentally, and even spiritually by reconnecting with nature; it helps them feel happier and healthier. Educating children about nature also helps foster a lifelong appreciation of the plants and animals that live around us, and can make children better future stewards of our precious natural resources.
Getting Outdoors and Into Nature
Discover Nature in Your Area
Find events, nature centers and conservation areas in your region.
Here are just a few of the great activities listed on Missouri Grown’s page that children and adults can both enjoy. Be sure to check the Farm Fun page for more great ideas to enjoy the bounty of Missouri’s harvests.
Athletics provide a great way to enjoy being outside. Getting connected to one of these organizations can lead to a healthier life and lasting friendships.
Safety for Children, Elderly & People with Disabilities
Jul 26, 2011
Vetting Caregivers
It is important to know the backgrounds of those who care for your loved ones.
Family Care Safety Registry
Missouri’s Family Care Safety Registry was established by law to protect children, the elderly, and the physically or mentally disabled in Missouri and to promote family and community safety by providing background information on potential caregivers.
Child Care Aware of Missouri
Child Care Aware of Missouri serves as a community resource on child care throughout the state. We help families find quality child care, preschool and after-school programs for their children. We work with child care program owners, directors and teachers to improve the quality of their programs. We provide business and civic leaders with information on the value and importance of child care and collaborate with them to make child care safe and enriching for children.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services works with organizations across the state to offer information and assistance to improve the health and well-being of thousands of Missouri families every year.
The Office of Child Advocate investigates complaints about an agency action or failure to act and is authorized to make recommendations in cases involving: Any child at risk of abuse, neglect, or other harm; A child or family involved with child protection or child welfare services.
The Governor´s Council on Disability (GCD) promotes full participation and inclusion of the nearly 1 million Missourians with disabilities in all aspects of community life by educating citizens, businesses, schools, universities and others of their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
