What We Know: FEMA has approved more than $16.6 million in disaster recovery and mitigation funding for projects in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
What It Means: More than $12.6 million of that total will go toward public assistance projects.
The money will help repair roads, public buildings and other critical infrastructure damaged by recent disasters.
It can also reimburse communities for emergency response costs tied to protecting public health and safety.
What’s Next: Missouri will receive more than $498,000.
The funding will be used to repair or replace damaged road surfaces and drainage ditches.
FEMA is also awarding more than $3.9 million through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Those funds will support projects designed to reduce damage from future disasters, including flood protection, safe rooms and other infrastructure improvements.
Agency officials say the funding is meant to help communities recover while making them better prepared for future storms, floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
FEMA works with state and local governments to determine where the money is needed most before projects move forward.
(Photo provided by FEMA)