Joplin area has received $174M in federal money since tornado

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Six months after a record-setting tornado touched down in Joplin and devastated the community, officials are taking stock of the just how much money, resources and man-hours have gone into the recovery effort so far.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the city of Joplin, Jasper County and Newton County have received an estimated $174 million already from the federal government.

The funding has been dispersed through a number of programs for both private homeowners needs as well as public infrastructure repairs.

In total, FEMA has provided $7.6 million already for some 2,975 destroyed homes in the Joplin area, while it gave out $12.5 million for 2,636 households with partial damage for repairs and other expenses.

There has also been a great deal of financial support to help get Joplin's small businesses back on track. The U.S. Small Business Administration approved $11.6 million in low-interest federal disaster loans to help pay for disaster losses to businesses and not-for-profit organizations.

In addition to financial assistance, volunteer efforts have also been critical to the Joplin recovery. The AmeriCorps Volunteer Reception Center in Joplin said 572,827 volunteer hours have been put in since the tornado struck in May. That translates to $10.6 million of free services to the community.

When the Joplin tornado struck on May 22, it became the deadliest tornado to touch down in the United States in 50 years, killing 161 people.

Pertinent address:

Joplin, MO