A department employee collecting abandoned drums during a flooding event

Disasters can come in many forms. Whether the disaster is weather-related, a geological event or caused by human actions or inactions, the main goal of disaster response and recovery is to protect humans and the environment from immediate danger and help communities get back on their feet.

The information provided below is designed to help in cleaning up homes and communities affected by earthquakes, sinkholes, flooding, droughts, other forms of severe weather and man-made hazards, such as hazardous material releases and spills. For information about managing debris produced during these disasters, refer to Natural Disaster Assistance for Missourians - What to Do with Disaster Debris - PUB0756 or Natural Disaster Assistance for Missouri Citizens: Contact Phone Numbers - PUB0763. Visit our Financial Opportunities webpage for possible recovery funding.

If your questions are not addressed by the information below, please contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827.

Drought

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Drinking Water and Wastewater Facility Information

The following information is intended to provide initial emergency guidance to the operators, owners and employees of both publicly and privately owned facilities that produce and distribute drinking water or collect and treat wastewater.

Drought Information and Assistance

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Local Assistance Contact Information

Missouri and Mississippi River Levels

The department coordinates issues relating to major river basins that affect Missouri, and provides technical support for negotiations and litigation actions to protect the state’s rights to this water. Learn more about the Missouri River Flood Issues and Mississippi River Flood Issues. Or visit the River Observations website. 

Missouri Drought Plan

Missouri State Park Advisories

Private Drinking Water Wells

Owners of private water wells should take precautions to protect their wells. If a well has been impacted, it is important to disinfect it carefully to ensure the water is safe to drink. Wells also should be disinfected whenever a water sample tests positive for bacteria or when work has been completed on the well, such as a pump replacement or liner installation. The following links provide helpful guidance:

Fire

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Asbestos and Open Burning

Extra precaution should be taken when handling asbestos-containing debris. Open burning is the burning of any materials in which air contaminants are emitted directly into the air without first passing through a stack or chimney. The open burning fact sheet summarizes allowable and prohibited open burning under Missouri regulations.

Current Air Quality

Debris Cleanup

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Historic Preservation

Local Assistance Contact Information

Missouri State Park Advisories

Scrap Tires

Flooding

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Containers or Tanks

To report orphaned containers or tanks contact the 24-hour spill line at 573-634-2436.

Debris Cleanup

Drinking Water and Wastewater Facility Information

The following information is intended to provide initial emergency guidance to the operators, owners and employees of both publicly and privately owned facilities that produce and distribute drinking water or collect and treat wastewater.

Drinking Water Assistance

Individuals whose homes or drinking water that may have been affected by a natural disaster can learn tips for Restoring Drinking Water to learn how to flush and disinfect their water lines and more. Additional information is also available from the Department of Health and Senior Services on Water Quality on page 4, 5 and 6. Contact your drinking water system directly to determine if a boil water advisory has been issued. Boil water advisories are a precautionary public notice issued by public water systems if conditions at the system demonstrate a potential threat to public health. Boil water orders are issued by the department and order public water systems to notify their customers about the threat to public health.

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group

The Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group provides input on our flood recovery priorities and improvements we can make to better protect our citizens and infrastructure. 

Historic Preservation

Local Assistance Contact Information

Missouri and Mississippi River Levels

The department coordinates issues relating to major river basins that affect Missouri, and provides technical support for negotiations and litigation actions to protect the state’s rights to this water. Learn more about the Missouri River Flood Issues and Mississippi River Flood Issues. Or visit the River Observations website. 

Missouri State Park Advisories

Private Drinking Water Wells

Owners of private water wells should take precautions to protect their wells against flooding. If a well has been impacted by floodwater, it is important to disinfect it carefully to ensure the water is safe to drink. Wells also should be disinfected whenever a water sample tests positive for bacteria or when work has been completed on the well, such as a pump replacement or liner installation. The following links provide helpful guidance:

Repairs

If repairs need to be made to the water well, hire a contractor to do the work. Locate contractors licensed to do business in Missouri online using mowells.

Bacteriological Testing

For more information about bacteriological testing for private drinking water please contact the following agencies:

Geologic Hazards

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agriculture

Staff respond to and provide Environmental Geology Assistance when mass animal mortality events occur including providing recommendations for appropriate burial locations for animal carcasses to protect Missouri’s environmentally sensitive areas, such as karst areas and floodplains, in the protection of groundwater and surface water.

Dam and Reservoir Safety

Debris Cleanup

Report any potential hazardous substance containers or propane tanks that have been affected by earthquakes to the Department of Natural of Resources. Containers or tanks can also be reported by calling the department’s 24-hour emergency response line at 573-634-2436.

Earthquakes

Energy

Emergency Energy Loans
Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Historic Preservation

Landslides

Landslides, slumps and rockfalls are potential geologic hazards throughout Missouri and can occur where there are bluffs or steep slopes. They often can be triggered when surficial materials are moved or modified by man. In general, the higher and steeper the slope, the farther and faster the slide will travel. Learn more about Landslides.

Local Assistance Contact Information

Mining and Reclamation

Missouri and Mississippi River Levels

The department coordinates issues relating to major river basins that affect Missouri, and provides technical support for negotiations and litigation actions to protect the state’s rights to this water. Learn more about the Missouri River Flood Issues and Mississippi River Flood Issues. Or visit the River Observations website. 

Missouri State Park Advisories

Sinkholes

The Missouri Geological Survey provides assistance to citizens by performing geologic evaluations to aid in determining if a collapse is attributed to a natural karst feature, such as a sinkhole, or is associated with the failure of a man-made feature. Learn more about Geologic Mapping for Natural Disasters and Sinkholes and Sinkhole Mitigation.

HazMat Incident

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Asbestos and Open Burning

Extra precaution should be taken when handling asbestos-containing debris. Open burning is the burning of any materials in which air contaminants are emitted directly into the air without first passing through a stack or chimney. The open burning fact sheet summarizes allowable and prohibited open burning under Missouri regulations.

Containers or Tanks

To report orphaned containers or tanks contact the 24-hour spill line at 573-634-2436.

Debris

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Environmental Emergency Response (EER)

Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste

Local Assistance Contact Information

Radioactive Materials

Petroleum Releases

Scrap Tires

Heat

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Current Air Quality

Checking local current air quality can help you plan your day. 

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Missouri State Park Advisories

Severe Weather

Advisories, News, Executive Orders and Waivers

Agricultural Information

Containers or Tanks

To report orphaned containers or tanks contact the 24-hour spill line at 573-634-2436.

Dam and Reservoir Safety

Debris Cleanup

Drinking Water and Wastewater Facility Information

The following information is intended to provide initial emergency guidance to the operators, owners and employees of both publicly and privately owned facilities that produce and distribute drinking water or collect and treat wastewater.

Drinking Water Assistance

Energy

Eligible recipients (public K-12 schools, city and county governments, public hospitals, and public colleges and universities) impacted by severe weather events or catastrophic equipment failure may apply for low-interest emergency loans year round. Emergency Energy Loan applications must be submitted within two months of the weather event or catastrophic equipment failure. Loans can provide financing for replacing or upgrading damaged equipment. For more information, please contact energy@dnr.mo.gov.

Historic Preservation

Local Assistance Contact Information

Missouri and Mississippi River Levels

The department coordinates issues relating to major river basins that affect Missouri, and provides technical support for negotiations and litigation actions to protect the state’s rights to this water. Learn more about the Missouri River Flood Issues and Mississippi River Flood Issues. Or visit the River Observations website. 

Missouri State Park Advisories

Private Drinking Water Wells

Owners of private water wells should take precautions to protect their wells. If a well has been impacted, it is important to disinfect it carefully to ensure the water is safe to drink. Wells also should be disinfected whenever a water sample tests positive for bacteria or when work has been completed on the well, such as a pump replacement or liner installation. The following links provide helpful guidance:

Related Links

Guidance about Planning for Natural Disaster Debris - EPA fact sheet
Recovery.mo.gov
MoDOT Traveler Info Map
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
Disaster Assisance.gov
University of Missouri Outreach and Extension - Severe Storms
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Kansas City District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Memphis District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Omaha District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District

Contact Information