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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, CONTACT:  Amy Susan (573) 751-1518
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 25, 2011

Gov. Nixon to Send Top Officials to Joplin for Community Response Meeting

Gov. Jay Nixon, senior officials from his administration and key staff will be on hand to connect those affected by the storms with state and federal assistance programs, including food assistance; cash assistance; counseling; temporary housing; unemployment assistance; and more.

JOPLIN, Mo. – "The entire state of Missouri stands with the people of Joplin," said Gov. Nixon. “We are putting every available resource in place to help families and businesses cope with the aftermath of this devastating storm. This meeting is the first step on a long road to recovery; but we will be there every step of the way.”

During this Community Response Meeting, leaders from key state agencies will provide a brief overview of services and resources their departments can offer. Members of the public will have an opportunity to visit individually with agency representatives at various stations.

Agencies that will be at this meeting include:

• Missouri Department of Public Safety
• Missouri National Guard
• State Emergency Management Agency, including its Faith- and Community-Based Partnership
• City of Joplin
• FEMA
• American Red Cross
• The United States Postal Service
• Missouri Department of Economic Development
• Missouri Division of Workforce Development
• Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
• Missouri Division of Employment Security
• Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources
• Missouri Department of Insurance
• Missouri Department of Social Services
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
• Missouri Department of Mental Health

A variety of city, county and federal agencies will also be represented.

This Community Response Meeting will take place at the following time and location:

Thursday, May 26
4:00 p.m.
Missouri Southern State University, Taylor Performing Arts Center
3950 Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801

This Community Response Meeting is free and open to the public. Members of the media will need to be credentialed. Media credentials can be picked up in the lobby of the Taylor Performing Arts Center beginning at 2:30 p.m.

On the evening of Sunday, May 22, Gov. Jay Nixon activated the Missouri National Guard to respond to the tornadoes and severe storms that struck Joplin and surrounding areas.  The governor also activated the State Emergency Operations Center and directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Highway Patrol to immediately assist local authorities.

Gov. Nixon has been in Joplin everyday this week surveying the damage, meeting with residents and coordinating response efforts with local officials. Gov. Nixon has spoken with President Barack Obama on multiple occasions and continues to work with his administration to coordinate federal assistance. President Obama has extended federal disaster assistance to individuals, families and local units of government in Jasper and Newton counties to aid with recovery efforts.

For questions about individual assistance and to register, Missourians can contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-3362. They may apply for disaster assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information or referrals are urged to call 211. The 211 service number is now available for most areas in Missouri. In areas where the 211 number is not operational, citizens can call 800-427-4626. Weather and emergency information also are available on the state of Missouri's website, MO.gov. For those with insurance, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to start the claims process.

For more information about unemployment assistance to those affected by natural disasters, visit labor.mo.gov/disaster.

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