State of Missouri Resource, Recovery & Rebuilding Center

Permanent Resource Center To Help Joplin MO Tornado Victims
Monday, June 06 2011

(Joplin, MO) -- A permanent resource center will open Tuesday to help victims of the Joplin tornado.

On Tuesday, Governor Nixon says he and state officials will launch the State of Missouri Resource, Recovery & Rebuilding Center at 705 Illinois Ave., Building A, Suite 12.

Nixon says the facility will serve as a one-stop shop for Joplin residents who need assistance with temporary housing, unemployment assistance, driver's licenses and other identification cards, and other issues.

Nixon says the following agencies will be represented at the center:
-Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (K-12 education issues)
-Missouri Department of Economic Development (small-business resources, business incentives)
-Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (public health, disease prevention)
-Missouri Housing Development Commission (temporary housing assistance)
-Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (insurance issues, complaints)
-Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (temporary unemployment assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance)
-Missouri Department of Mental Health (grief counseling, mental health services)
-Missouri Department of Natural Resources (clean-water, solid waste, environmental issues)
-Missouri Department of Public Safety (state emergency management, response issues)
-Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (emergency response, shelters, other issues)
-Missouri Department of Revenue (driver's licenses, identification cards, certificates of title)
-Missouri Department of Social Services (food assistance, other services)
-Missouri Division of Workforce Development (Career Centers, job training, services for unemployed individuals)

The governor will hold an official opening at the center at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. He'll be joined by Kip Stetzler, acting director of the center.

The death toll in the May 22 EF-5 tornado reached 141 over the weekend.

FEMA reports that almost 7,800 households have registered with the agency. So far, more than $10.5 million is approved to help affected residents.

About 55,000 hours have been registered by volunteers since the tornado hit. Also, the city announced curbside debris removal is underway.

The city has 70 trucks working to pick up separated piles left at the curb.

Also, the city says residents have to get any personal items they want to keep no later than June 15.