ST. LOUIS – President Joe Biden approved Missouri’s disaster declaration from the December 10 tornado that killed at least two people.

The White House said Biden gave his approval Monday and “ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes.”

The federal funding will be available to the state, local governments and private nonprofit organizations in order to repair or replace facilities in Bollinger, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Pemiscot, Reynolds, and Wayne counties damaged by the storms. The funding is also available for “hazard mitigation measures.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security named DuWayne Tewes the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in those areas.