Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group to Hold First Meeting on August 27

AUGUST 21, 2019

Jefferson City — The Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 Riverside Drive, Jefferson City. Governor Parson is scheduled to speak at the meeting, which is open to the public.

Governor Parson signed Executive Order 19-14 on July 18 to establish the working group. 

“The Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group will play a critical role in our path forward as communities across Missouri continue to recover and rebuild from record-level flooding this year,” Governor Parson said. “We’re looking forward to the group’s input on our flood recovery priorities and improvements we can make to better protect our citizens and infrastructure.” 

Governor Parson’s Executive Order cites limited resources to assist with the ongoing efforts to clean up and rebuild the extensive levee damage.

The Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture will convene the working group, designate a chairperson, and provide staff support and assistance.

“The purpose of the Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group is to provide input on the state’s short-, medium- and long-term flood recovery priorities and feedback on the state’s current levee system with suggested changes to benefit Missouri and its citizens,” Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Dru Buntin said. “The group also will identify areas where attention is needed and provide input on priorities for allocation of state funding as we recover from this year’s flooding.”

In addition to addressing short-term repairs to levees, the working group will also explore options to improve the conveyance of floodwater through our major rivers.

Members of the Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group include the Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Economic Development, Transportation, and the State Emergency Management Agency. Representatives from the Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Coalition to Protect the Missouri River, and the Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition are members as well. 

Four additional members have been appointed – two representing agri-business and two representing local government interests. Governor Parson may appoint other members. 

The Executive Order directs the working group to submit an initial report to the Governor with findings and suggestions by December 31, 2019, with a final report due May 31, 2020.

Information about the Flood Recovery Advisory Work Group and Executive Order 19-14 is available here. 

Flood-related information can be found online at https://dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm.