Around 50 officials met in St. Joseph Friday to take the next step in applying for federal funding after approval of a federal disaster declaration.

“The purpose behind our meeting today was to No. 1,  learn the process, and the most important thing is that all the applications have to be in by the end of next week,” said Bill Brinton, Buchanan County Emergency Management Director. “It was a matter of getting all the people who may have projects to get their applications filled out to make sure the State Emergency Management Agency has those applications.”

Officials from all over Northwest Missouri met at the Civic Arena for the Region H State Public Assistance (PA) Applicant Briefings on applying for FEMA assistance after flooding  caused damage earlier this year.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon approved 68 Missouri counties for public disaster assistance after flash flooding and severe storms from May 15 to July 27.

Brinton said in Buchanan County roads are one of the biggest concerns.

“We’re looking at roads out along the Platte River, we’re looking at Mitchell Road, at Saxton/Easton Road.  We’ve had lots of roads that have been damaged due to flooding,” Brinton said.  “The City of St. Joseph have approximately $2.5-million dollars worth of projects that they’ve identified.”