FEMA Cuts Come Under Scrutiny Due To Historic Tornado Damage In St. Louis Black Communities

On May 16, the sky over St. Louis turned green just before an EF-3 tornado tore through the city's predominantly Black neighborhoods, killing five people — including three children — and leaving a 12-mile path of destruction. Rapper and activist Antoine White, known as T-Dubb-O, recognized the danger from the sky's hue, drawing from his Tennessee roots. He fled with his wife and son, but many others weren't so lucky. No tornado sirens went off, and no emergency alerts were issued before winds exceeding 150 mph struck homes, schools, and long-standing Black-owned businesses like The Harlem Tap Room.

Across Missouri and Kentucky, at least 27 people died that weekend due to the tornado system. The devastation illuminated the unequal burden of climate disasters: "We're sweeping up the ashes again," said White on May 18, pointing to systemic neglect. "We're dealing with disasters every day… lead-tainted water, and violence."

Despite early reports showing St. Louis' emergency siren system had known dead zones since 2020, half of North City residents heard no alerts. Mayor Cara Spencer called it "unacceptable," noting the city's modern alert system, NotifySTL, depends on smartphones — which many Black residents don't reliably have. As of May 20, no federal recovery assistance had arrived. Spencer confirmed that FEMA would not land until May 21, five days after impact.

The disaster also spotlighted federal disinvestment. Just weeks prior, the Trump administration had cut FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program — wiping out nearly $1 billion for disaster-resistant projects in low-income and Black communities. Nationally, a Harvard study revealed that Black counties receive 23% less FEMA funding per capita than white-majority ones.

In St. Louis' wealthier Central West End, where median incomes top $90,000, fewer than 15% of buildings were heavily damaged. In Jeff-Vander-Lou, where poverty exceeds 45%, 90% of structures were destroyed. White emphasized the resilience of his community: "It's not an organization or the government doing this work. It's the everyday community."

As Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson warned of more storms on the horizon, he urged residents to take each other in: "It's going to take your help to get through this next wave."

Know Your Rights Camp recently distributed over $30,000 in emergency funds and support to Black-led organizations in St. Louis after the recent tornado. These groups, already trusted allies of KYRC, are now the backbone of community-driven response efforts focused on providing shelter, food, and safety to those in need. The relief efforts show that the devastation extends beyond the immediate impact, with families beginning the challenging process of rebuilding from the ground up. As this work continues, KYRC thanks everyone who can give resources, volunteer, or amplify these efforts, because in times like these, #WeGotUs.

Link: Capital B News