City of St. Louis and State of Missouri Begin FEMA/SEMA-Funded Demolition of Tornado-Damaged Properties

The City of St. Louis and the State of Missouri today announced the start of federally and state-funded demolition of tornado-damaged properties in North St. Louis, with an initial 19 properties and up to 65 structures in total. The state-managed program, supported by funding from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program, began safely removing structurally compromised properties today, Thursday, May 14, with two properties in the Academy/Sherman Park and Fountain Park neighborhoods, clearing the path for neighborhood rebuilding.

FEMA-eligible demolitions are being conducted by state-contracted firms under the oversight of SEMA, in close coordination with the City of St. Louis Recovery Office, Building Division and Department of Health. Both City and State demolition programs are now fully active, with combined funding to support more than 470 demolitions in the tornado zone, over 70% of which were vacant or condemned pre-tornado.

“For the families on these blocks, every damaged structure is a daily reminder of what they lost. Demolishing the buildings that can’t be salvaged doesn’t make the community whole, but it does mean we’re seeing long-awaited progress and clearing a path for rebuilding,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “I’m grateful for the efforts of our Recovery Office and Building Division to get these properties ready for demolition, and to FEMA and the State of Missouri for their partnership with the City.”

FEMA PPDR Program at a Glance

• Properties cleared for demolition in this phase: 19 permits issued, with up to 65 identified in the pipeline
• Neighborhoods: Greater Ville, Kingsway East, Academy/Sherman Park, Fountain Park, Lewis Place, The Ville, Vandeventer, O'Fallon, Penrose
• Start date: Thursday, May 14
• Resident hotline: STLRecovers at 833-925-0977

How the Program Works

Properties included in this phase have been identified through owner requests for demolition, verified with structural assessments by the City’s Building Division and approved by the State and FEMA based on criteria for federally reimbursable demolition. Demolitions in this program proceed only after the property owner has signed a right-of-entry (ROE) agreement authorizing the State and its contractors to perform the work at no cost to the owner.

Property owners who have not yet signed a right-of-entry agreement and believe their property may qualify can contact the Recovery Office at 833-925-0977. ROE applications closed on February 28, but late applications will be considered if the property is likely eligible under the FEMA program.

For non-FEMA eligible tornado-damaged properties, $10 million in state funding from Senate Bill 1 was allocated to the City for a pilot project to cover demolition costs for 120 properties along major street corridors.

“Debris removal is underway, and we recognize the multiple barriers and obstacles that our team has overcome in this process. In an area where many families did not have insurance and many properties did not qualify for federal assistance, it was critical for us to find a path forward to rebuild and make progress,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. “On behalf of my office and our state agencies, I want to thank Mayor Spencer and city partners, as well as Missouri’s federal delegation and FEMA, for their continued efforts to make St. Louis whole again, and even better than before.”

Safety and Neighborhood Protections

Safety precautions and neighborhood notification are built into every demolition. Crews distribute door hangers to surrounding residents at least 48 hours before work begins, pre-wet structures the night before and apply continuous water suppression throughout the demolition to control dust. All asbestos and lead-containing materials are handled and disposed of in accordance with state and federal requirements, and the Recovery Office is actively developing partnerships to provide continuous air monitoring at active sites.

“This is what coordinated recovery looks like. For this FEMA-funded program, the City has been the front door for residents, the State is running the demolition operation, and FEMA is funding the lion’s share,” said Julian Nicks, chief recovery officer for the City of St. Louis.

Federal Disaster Assistance

This phase of demolitions is funded through FEMA disaster assistance authorized under the federal disaster declaration for the May 2025 storms (DR-4877-MO). The federal funding covers 75% of eligible costs, with the remaining costs covered by the State of Missouri under Senate Bill 1.

For Residents

Residents with health concerns or requests can contact the City of St. Louis Citizen Service Bureau at 311 or visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/csb/.