Desolate Black St. Louis Community Faces Destruction: Governor Appeals to Trump for Tornado Relief Over Two Weeks After Catastrophe

In the wake of the devastating EF-3 tornado that hit St. Louis on May 16, residents are voicing their urgent need for aid. The storm unleashed winds up to 150 mph, demolishing entire neighborhoods, predominantly affecting marginalized Black communities, and resulting in five fatalities and 38 injuries. Lisa Covington, a long-time resident, lamented the extensive destruction, emphasizing her community's fight for survival. “It won’t be a neighborhood,” she warned, highlighting the dire lack of assistance. Despite earlier storms this year, federal disaster relief was only recently approved by President Trump. Missouri officials, including Governor Mike Kehoe, are actively seeking prompt federal support for temporary housing and vital repairs. As volunteers step in with cleanup efforts, St. Louis residents grow increasingly restless, awaiting much-needed federal intervention.