Tagged: disaster relief

Republicans controlling the House are preparing a $1 billion aid package to make sure federal disaster relief accounts don't run out.

Rep. Robert Aderholt said the move would ensure that there's enough money for victims of the devastating tornado that leveled Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, as well as those suffering from flooding in the Mississippi Basin and from tornadoes that swept across Alabama last month.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the president to issue a disaster declaration for areas hit by tornadoes and severe storms on Dec. 31.

Nixon on Friday requested federal individual assistance for people living in Carter, Christian, Dent, Franklin, Phelps, Polk, St. Louis, Stone and Webster counties as well as the city of St. Louis.

Five Missouri residents were killed by the severe weather.

Asking "what if?" is usually pretty benign, but when a new report asks the same question, the answers are about preparedness for disasters, diseases and bioterrorism.

Illinois scores a 6 out of 10 on the Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report.  The score is unchanged from last year's study.