Latest news with #CityEmergencyManagementAgency
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
St. Louis emergency official removed after tornado kills five without warning siren
St. Louis emergency official removed after tornado kills five without warning siren Mayor Cara Spencer said residents were not alerted to 'the most horrific and deadly storm our city has seen in my lifetime.' Show Caption Hide Caption St. Louis construction workers survive tornado in their truck St. Louis construction workers took shelter in their truck when a tornado ripped through the area. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer will seek a new top emergency official after warning sirens failed to be activated ahead of what she called 'the most horrific and deadly storm our city has seen in my lifetime,' including a tornado that killed five people and injured dozens. Spencer placed Sarah Russell, commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency, on administrative leave and said the department would be led by Fire Captain John Walk 'until a permanent commissioner has been found,'' according to a statement from the mayor's office. Russell and her staff were away from the office May 16 as the expected storm bore down on St. Louis, and they could not press the button to activate the alarm warning residents of the impending tornado danger, the statement said. The mayor's office said Russell reached out to the fire department but 'the directive to activate the sirens was ambiguous, which cannot happen when a tornado is sweeping through our City and St. Louisans' safety depends on being alerted immediately.'' Spencer has since changed the protocol so the fire department will be in charge of activating the sirens, her office said. The National Weather Service said at least half a dozen tornadoes struck Missouri and neighboring Illinois. According to officials, at least 5,000 properties were damaged in St. Louis. The twisters were part of a major system of severe weather that tore through the Upper Midwest and some of the eastern states on May 16, killing more than 30 and leaving many damaged homes and downed power lines. Spencer estimated the damage in St. Louis at around $1 billion. She and other Missouri officials have complained that federal response to the disaster hasn't mobilized quickly enough, saying the Federal Emergency Management Agency had no presence on the ground as of May 19. 'On the local level, every organization, community member, elected official, has been on point,'' Spencer told MSNBC. 'What we need right now is federal assistance. This is what the federal government is for.'' Contributing: Mike Snider and Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado victims struggle with lack of aid in St. Louis, fear looting
ST. LOUIS – Residents say they are experiencing a lack of aid following the devastating tornado that hit the St. Louis region last Friday, leaving many displaced. City officials reported that thousands of buildings suffered damage, and five people lost their lives. One St. Louisan shared with FOX 2 that the tornado struck his home in north St. Louis, tearing off the roof completely. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Lindell Briscoe, who lives in the O'Fallon neighborhood, says he and his family are without a roof and electricity. Briscoe said that he has not had any help for the damages. So far, he and his family have only received food and water, which they gladly appreciate. However, they need much more, according to Briscoe. They fear that if they leave their home, looters may seize the opportunity to take their belongings. 'My valuables and my family are here,' Briscoe told FOX 2. 'It's hard to leave when you grew up here your whole life. I have never experienced something like this ever.' Briscoe told FOX 2 that he and his family did not hear any sirens on Friday, which has been a frequent concern of many residents. Earlier this week, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer admitted that there was 'human failure' in decision-making when the storm came. As of May 21, Sarah Russell, the Commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), has been placed on leave for the failure of signaling the city's siren. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
