ST. LOUIS – Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard have been called in to assist with support and recovery efforts after Friday’s deadly tornado in St. Louis, according to Mayor Cara Spencer.

The National Guard is on the ground as of Tuesday, conducting evaluations with local authorities to assess immediate needs, Spencer announced during a Tuesday news conference.

Meanwhile, workers with FEMA, along with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration, will arrive Wednesday and be on the ground for three days to evaluate damage, a key step to determine federal funding eligibility.

Spencer says that FEMA’s presence in St. Louis is needed to submit a formal and comprehensive request for federal relief.

“In order for FEMA to have the [disaster] declaration, there has to be a pretty comprehensive evaluation of the damage,” said Spencer. “That is what they are [coming] here. We have outlined as much as we can. We have had the [St. Louis] assessor’s office here since Friday night assessing the damage so that FEMA can quantify just how extensive the damage is.”

“We know how extensive it is. We have seen it on the ground, but it has to be quantified. There are some procedural things that have to be done in order for that declaration to be finalized.”

A devastating EF-3 tornado ripped through St. Louis on Friday. Five people were killed, 38 others were hurt and more than 5,000 homes were destroyed, causing an estimated $1 billion in damages.

Spencer says the mayor’s office has been in contact with the White House over aid, while Gov. Mike Kehoe has spoken to President Donald Trump in an effort to expedite federal support. Missouri U.S. Josh Hawley has also urged officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, for help with approving Missouri’s pending disaster declaration requests.

When asked why FEMA had not arrived earlier, Spencer said, “We are making those asks. We are doing everything we can to make sure they are here. These things are in motion. Why we’re not getting that now, I don’t know. It’s heartbreaking to me as well. And I want ensure people we are doing everything we can to get them here. We will get them here tomorrow.”

The National Guard is already conducting evaluations as of Tuesday, though their exact timeline in St. Louis remains to be determined. Spencer described bringing in officials from both the National Guard and FEMA as “critical work [in] outlining the process of submitting the request for a national disaster declaration.”

That said, Spencer has also warned residents to be on alert for possible scams. On Monday, her office posted on Facebook emphasizing that FEMA was not yet operating in the area and advised residents to report anyone falsely claiming FEMA affiliation.

Federal and local disaster workers will never ask for money when on the ground or for personal information via unsolicited calls or emails. FEMA will also not send a letter without applying. Anyone with these concerns should contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

In addition to deploying the National Guard and FEMA, St. louis city officials are also reviewing available local funding options to support recovery in the interim, checking to see if the city can divert $10 million to $20 million in ARPA funds toward recovery.