Tornado Recovery Committees established for May 16 tornado aid
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer announced the creation of two committees to support recovery efforts from the May 16 tornado.
The two committees---the Civic Leaders Recovery Advisory Committee as well as the Resident and Community Recovery Advisory Committee---will help advise Spencer in best practices to sustain neighborhood growth, population retention, equity, and resilience following the devastating May 16 tornado in St. Louis.
The mayor's office released a large list of members already appointed to the Civic Leaders committee, which is still in formation. Some members include NAACP St. Louis Chapter President Adolphus Pruitt, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Michael McMillan, Ameren Corporation Chief of Staff Patrick Brown, Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent Millicent Borishade and Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach, among many others.
St. Louis residents, business owners, and other community members who serve in the impact zone are eligible to apply to serve on the Resident and Community committee. Applications can be submitted until 5 p.m. on Sept. 10.
“One thing that’s clear to me from being in our hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with residents, listening to frontline organizations, and learning from national recovery experts, is that St. Louis’ recovery depends on collaboration,” Mayor Spencer said in a release. “The recovery cannot be mapped out from within City Hall. Through these committees, the people whose lives were abruptly changed on May 16, and the people who have stepped up to serve ever since, will play vital roles in helping us put St. Louisans' needs and wishes into action.”
The goal of establishing both committees is to connect the community to the center of recovery.
“Recovery can’t be successfully led by City Hall alone,” City of St. Louis Chief Recovery Officer Julian Nicks added. “Just like the initial response, it takes all hands on deck—and our Recovery Office is ready to work side-by-side with community and civic leaders to accelerate our progress.”
