President George W. Bush declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri Friday and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on May 10.

The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Newton, Jasper and Barry counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cost uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael L. Karl as federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance Saturday by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT.