Tornado Recovery Assistance

Let us help you rebuild

IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE

There are several organizations in place that are onsite helping those affected by the storms with immediate help. 

• St. Louis City
  
• 4theVille
• Action STL
• Greater St. Louis 
• United Way
• Urban League

PROPERTY DAMAGE

For home owners that were affected by the storms that hit St. Louis Please reference the information below to provide insight on the recovery process for your damaged home. 

The tags placed on buildings after the tornado only indicate if they are structurally safe to occupy and do not indicate whether or not damage was sustained.

Green = safe for occupancy

Yellow = limited access due to safety concerns

Red = not safe to enter or occupy

No Tag – our understanding is that some buildings that are safe for occupancy were not tagged.

If you have questions about your property, please be safe and contact the city to ensure your building is safe to enter.

While buildings may be safe to occupy, they may still have damage that requires a permit to repair.  For example, tuck pointing brick does not require a permit, but a permit is required for rebuilding any portion of an exterior wall.  Other items that require permits include roof replacement, altering or replacing parts of the building structure, and replacing major components of electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems.  An architect or contractor can advise on what work requires a permit.

Permits for plumbing, electrical, and heating/cooling work do not require signed/sealed drawings by an architect or engineer.  The contractor performing the work can “pull” the permit for that work.  Roof replacement also often requires a permit that can be “pulled” by the contractor.

For repairs to the building structure, including interior and exterior walls, roof structure, foundations, etc., an architect or engineer will need to prepare drawings that are submitted to the Permit Section of the Building Division of the City of St. Louis.  For building owners with the means to pay an architect or engineer, they would engage an architect or engineer with a contract for their services.  For owners who do not have the means to pay a professional, they can engage an architect or engineer on a pro bono basis (work undertaken without charge).  The AIA St. Louis  can provide owners with lists of architects based on the type of building (home, church, multi-family residential, retail, etc.).

For buildings with Yellow or Red tags, assessing the viability of saving the building may be needed.  Architects can help the owner understand if saving the building is possible, what work would be required, and how much it will cost.  The owner would have to weigh that cost against the cost of starting from scratch.

More information on permitting can be found on the City of St. Louis Webpage:  https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/permits/building-permits/residential-construction.cfm

LET US HELP

• If your home was affected by the storm, pease provide us details about your situation - HERE

• City of St. Louis 'Ask An Architect' Sessions -  AIA St. Louis partnership with NOMASTL & the City of St. Louis Building Division to staff an ‘Ask an Architect’ desk at City Hall Room 425.  We are proud to partner with the National Organization of Minority Architects and City to rebuild the community that we love and proudly call home.  The Ask an Architect desk will be staffed by architects 12-3pm on Monday & Wednesday for the foreseeable future.
  • AIA Members can volunteer for the Ask An Architect sessions - HERE

VOLUNTEER TO HELP

• The Peoples Response Community Canvasses (August 2nd and August 10th) - Sign up HERE

• If you are an architect or firm owner that wants to help, let us know more - HERE