FEMA distributes more than $2 million to Morehouse residents

Little Morehouse, Mo., has received a big share of FEMA dollars to rebuild from floods that nearly washed out the New Madrid County community of 1,000 people.

As of Friday, Morehouse had received $2,148,969 in grants, more than two thirds of the $2.91 million FEMA has distributed to flood-affected residents of New Madrid County, according to FEMA spokesman John Mills.

About 280 homes, or two-thirds of Morehouse's residences, sustained water damage in the floods. Some 70 properties have been condemned, Morehouse Mayor Pete Leija recently said, with as many as 50 of those slated for removal.

Cape Girardeau County residents have received $135,000 in FEMA grants to date. Other Southeast Missouri Counties receiving individual assistance include:

* Bollinger -- $84,300

* Butler -- $2.3 million

* Dunklin -- $175,000

* Stoddard -- $578,000

* Scott -- $356,000

Statewide, FEMA has disbursed $23.4 million to individual victims of the historic floods of 2011 and the Joplin tornado, the most destructive twister to hit the U.S. in decades. Residents of Jasper and Newton counties, where the EF-5 tornado struck, have received a combined $13 million-plus in FEMA grants.

Mills said many faith-based and volunteer groups have been working around the clock in Morehouse, cleaning up and knocking down homes.

Cleaning up the town has been a communitywide effort, attracting faith groups and volunteers from beyond Southeast Missouri's borders. Mills said 52 damaged homes have been mucked out and repaired, and 12 homes have been demolished by Hope International volunteers. Habitat for Humanity plans to rebuild several homes in the community.

"It's part of the whole community pulling together," Mills said.

Among those assisting include volunteers from AmeriCorps' St. Louis emergency response team, the Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corp., All Hands Volunteers, and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Habitat for Humanity is building five homes, according to Mills. The Salvation Army has handed out some 150 Walmart vouchers of up to $300, and cleaning supplies.

Mills said the FEMA disaster recovery center in Morehouse, at 420 S. Carroll St., will remain open until further notice. The recovery center in Cape Girardeau was expected to close Saturday.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

105 E. Beech St., Morehouse, MO