City of St. Louis Announces Application Deadline for Private Property Assistance

Today, the City of St. Louis announced that Feb. 14 is the final day for right-of-way debris pickup (streets and alleys) in the tornado zone, as well as the deadline to apply for the Private Property Assistance (PPA) Program, which will provide stabilization and repair, demolition and debris removal services for private property owners.

This coordinated effort, supported by city, state and federal resources, creates a time-limited opportunity for eligible property owners to receive these free services. The deadline is required to meet FEMA deadlines and ensure coordinated efforts on the ground. The Recovery Office is holding a series of community meetings, including tonight, Jan. 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at Yeatman-Liddell Middle School, 4265 Athlone Ave., where residents can receive support with PPA applications.

“Debris removal and repairs are essential steps in tornado recovery, and we have a limited window to ensure all are registered so all available funds can be used to benefit residents,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “We are asking every eligible property owner, family member, neighbor and community partner to help spread the word and make sure no one misses this opportunity.”

Since the tornado, the City has operated an ongoing Right-of-Way Debris Clearing Program to support emergency and community cleanup. As recovery advances, the Private Property Assistance Program, which opened applications on Oct. 21, now provides the next pathway for debris removal and demolition support, in addition to home stabilization and repair. The Right-of-Way Debris Clearing Program ends on Feb. 14, 2026.

“The focus of the Recovery Office has been and through the deadline continues to be picking up debris from streets and alleys, collecting applications and conducting site inspections,” said Chief Recovery Officer Julian Nicks. “The delivery of services has not started in scale as the city and state are hiring and onboarding contractors, but work is expected to accelerate in March after contractors are onboarded.”

What the Private Property Assistance Program Is

The Private Property Assistance Program is a city-led program, with state and federal funding and execution support that helps property owners who do not have enough funding to:

• Stabilize and repair damaged properties to habitability, where feasible
• Demolish structures that are unsafe or beyond repair
• Remove tornado-related debris and hazardous trees from private property

The City leads the application process, inspects all properties, develops scopes of work for contractors and handles demolition and debris removal for non-FEMA-eligible properties, as well as all repairs. The State and its contractors are responsible for demolishing and removing debris from FEMA-eligible properties.

Property Owner-Eligibility

• All property owners whose buildings were damaged by the May 16 tornado and need support completing work are encouraged to apply, including:
• Residential property owners (home-owners and landlords)
• Commercial property owners
• Mixed-use property owners

Not all properties are eligible for funding and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but we encourage all to apply.

Critical Deadlines Property Owners Should Know

• Right-of-Way debris application deadline: Feb. 14
• Private Property Assistance application deadline: Feb. 14

When Will Critical Work Begin

Application reviews and inspections are ongoing. Activity will increase gradually in February, with the demolition, debris removal and repair work accelerating in March.

What Property Owners Should Do

Property owners should:

• Apply for the Private Property Assistance Program by:
  • Online at app.stlrecovers.com
  • Visiting STLRecovers Outreach Center at 4401 Natural Bridge
  • Call our Call Center at 833-925-0977
• Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for additional information from STLRecovers case managers
• Respond within 48 hours of receipt of scheduling inspection requests

Community Outreach

Many impacted property owners may be displaced or living outside the region. The City is asking neighbors, families and community organizations to help share information and connect owners to the program.

“If you know someone who owns damaged property, even if they don’t live there anymore, please help connect them to this program,” said Chief Recovery Officer Julian Nicks. “This recovery opportunity only works if all property owners register.”

How you can help:

• Track which parcels or properties have registered for assistance on the city's public dashboard at app.stlrecovers.com.
• Share information with neighbors and encourage them to apply
• Contact STL Recovers Call Center with the name, address, potential contact information, or any other relevant context, and we will reach out to support:
  • Call 1-833-925-0977
  • Email stlrecovers@tetratech.com

Learn More and Get Help

Residents can apply for assistance, get detailed updates from Mayor Spencer and the Recovery Office on the plan for private property assistance and connect with City departments and community partners at STL Recover’s upcoming community meetings and resource fairs:

• Jan. 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Yeatman-Liddell Middle School (4265 Athlone Ave.)
• Additional community meetings will be held on Feb. 17 and March 17. Locations will be announced at a later date.