West Plains

The city of West Plains, MO, with a population of over 12,000, received over 9 inches of rain on April 29, causing the Howell Creek to overflow. Governor Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency on April 28, before the flood began, and activated the Missouri National Guard on April 30. On June 2, President Trump declared Howell County along with 47 other counties in Missouri as major disasters, making them eligible for federal assistance. Residents could apply to FEMA for financial support to help them recover from lost belongings and rebuild. The American Red Cross opened a shelter for displaced residents in the First Baptist Church. We connected with Pastor Dan of the church and cooked breakfast in the church’s parking lot. We served the victims of the flood for two days.