The response, recovery, and lessons learned from the Missouri floods of 1993 and 1994 / prepared by State Emergency Management Agency.

Cover title

Includes glossary

The disaster -- The response -- The recovery operations -- Hazard mitigation -- Flood activity report -- Governor's flood recovery partnership -- Governor's task force on flood plain management -- Emergency preparedness - lessons learned

The floods of 1993 and 1994 left a legacy of destruction, human suffering and property damage of unprecedented terms in Missouri's history. In the space of one calendar year, Missouri received four presidential declarations for flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The flood's ravages were felt in 112 of 114 counties destroying homes, businesses and spoiling croplands. The floods were a "slow moving" disaster allowing communities downstream to take preventative protection measures such as sandbagging and evacuations. Missouri is moving toward recovery with state and federal programs designed to help rebuild their public facilities and citizens rebuild their futures. The cooperation among state, federal and local governments is outstanding and ongoing. This report summarizes not only the disaster but more importantly the recovery. The lessons learned by local governments and state agencies can better prepare Missourians to meet future catastrophic disasters