Tornadoes in Missouri

		On May 22, Joplin, Missouri was struck by a tornado which has impacted a densely populated area of the city and caused widespread damage to the city’s infrastructure. A State of Emergency has been declared and the secretary of HHS has declared a public health emergency and issued a waiver of the requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.

Topics on this Page

		Federal Public Health Actions
		HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Missouri HHS Public Health Emergency Declaration Renewal of HHS Public Health Emergency Declaration Severe Storms and Flooding in Missouri 1135 Waiver President Obama Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration		Letter to House Speaker regarding the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency and 1135 Waiver Letter to Senate Majority Leader regarding the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency and 1135 Waiver
		Missouri Health and Preparedness Information
		Public Health Actions and Announcements Federal disaster declaration extended to Jasper and Newton counties after tornadoes strike southwest Missouri Federal disaster assistance extended to eight Missouri counties hard hit by severe storms and flooding		Stay Connected Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services on Twitter RSS Feed for Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Missouri Emergency Communications Resources
		Situation Report
		Situation Report
		Locate Loved Ones and Care for the Whole Family Stay safe and take care of the immediate needs of yourself and your loved ones.
		Find a Shelter (Red Cross) Red Cross Safe and Well Program (Red Cross)		Protecting your Pets and Livestock (FEMA)
		Staying Safe Safety tips to help you handle common problems following tornadoes, including those related to power outages and cleaning up safely.
		Staying Safe after a Tornado (CDC) Power Outages (CDC) Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CDC)		Clean Up Safely After a Disaster (CDC) Clean Up Flood Water (CDC) Mold after a Disaster (CDC)
		Food and Water Safety Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
		Keeping Food and Water Safe During an Emergency (FoodSafety.gov) Refrigerated Foods and Power Outages (FoodSafety.gov)		Frozen Food and Power Outages (FoodSafety.gov)
		Mental Health Resources Coping with the stress caused by a tornado can be challenging for individuals, families, and children. Learn the signs of stress, what to expect, and how you can help your family and loved ones. If you are having trouble coping and need someone to talk to, contact the Southwest Missouri Crisis Intervention Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-494-7355.
		Coping Resources: Resources to Help Cope with a Traumatic Event (SAMHSA) Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (SAMHSA) Local Crisis Services Life Crisis Services Behavioral Health Response Alcohol and Substance Abuse in a Disaster Alcohol, Medication, and Drug Use After a Disaster (SAMHSA) Disaster Recovery Resources for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers (SAMHSA) For Public Safety Workers Public Safety Workers Resource Collection (SAMHSA)		For Parents and Teachers: Questions To Ask Your Children About the Tornado (NCTSN) Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after a Tornado (NCTSN) Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after a Tornado (NCTSN) Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of the Tornadoes (NCTSN) For Parents of Young Children: After the Tornado: Helping Young Children Heal (NCTSN) Tornado Response for Kids: Right after a Tornado (NCTSN) Tornado Recovery for Kids: Making Things Better (NCTSN) For Parents of Teens: Tornado Response for Teens: Right after a Tornado (NCTSN) Tornado Recovery for Teens: Making Things Better (NCTSN)
		Safety Information for Responders and Clinicians Information on how to stay safe, manage fatigue, avoid hazards, and communicate with the public.
		Guidance for Managing Worker Fatigue During Disaster Operations (PDF - 671 KB) (NRT) Hospitals, Nursing Homes & Community Assistance Providers (AHRQ) WISER - Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (NLM)		Hazardous Substance Data Bank (NLM) Public Service Announcements: video, audio, English, Spanish, ASL, TV crawls (CDC)