St. Louis Adds 1,200 Homes to Tornado Repair Plan

Owner-occupied homeowners damaged in the May 2025 tornado may qualify for up to $50,000 in repairs if their household income is at or below 120% of the Area Median Income.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Home Renovation

St. Louis Adds 1,200 Homes to Tornado Repair Plan

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St. Louis has preliminarily approved more than 1,200 additional homeowners affected by the May 16, 2025, tornado for its Home Repair Program. The city's Recovery Office is proposing $30 million in Rams settlement funds to support a second phase of repairs.

Why it matters

Recovery funds remain limited, so the city is prioritizing owner-occupied homes, meaning eligibility depends on living in the damaged house at the time of the storm. For St. Louis families still living with tornado damage, the proposal could determine whether repair help reaches their roof, walls, or foundation.

The Home Repair Program caps repairs at $50,000 per home and requires owner-occupied status at the time of the storm, with household income no higher than 120% of the Area Median Income. Rental properties and commercial buildings are not eligible.

The players

Board of Estimate and Apportionment

The St. Louis city body that holds the final vote on the proposed $30 million in Phase 2 repair funding.

St. Louis Recovery Office

The city office proposing the allocation of Rams settlement funds to support tornado home repairs.

The details

Homes must pass inspections and feasibility reviews before final approval, and the city will group approved homes into batches to repair them across multiple neighborhoods at the same time. About 60 homes from the initial $12 million pilot phase, which launched in May and included more than 200 homes, have already been fully repaired. The city is using this pilot experience to shape the larger Phase 2 effort.

May 16, 2025: Tornado struck St. Louis, damaging homes.
May 2026: Initial $12 million pilot phase launched.
Nov. 13, 2026: Written notices sent to residents about eligibility.
Nov. 18, 2026: Board of Estimate and Apportionment final funding vote.
January 2027: Next round of home inspections expected to begin.

The Home Front

The proposal applies a settlement-funded repair model to owner-occupied housing, a choice that limits aid for rental properties and shapes how St. Louis neighborhoods recover from the storm. Repair eligibility rules like the 120% Area Median Income threshold determine which households can access the program.

If your St. Louis home was damaged in the May 16, 2025, tornado, check whether you were the owner-occupant at the time of the storm and whether your household income falls under 120% of the Area Median Income. Watch for the written eligibility notices and gather documentation of damage and ownership now, since inspections and feasibility reviews come before final approval.

The takeaway

Owner-occupied status and income eligibility are the deciding factors for Phase 2 repair help. Keep your ownership records and damage documentation organized, and plan to have a licensed contractor assess any structural, electrical, or roofing damage during inspections.

What happens next

The funding proposal goes before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for final approval on Nov. 18, and the next round of inspections is expected to begin in January 2027.