ST. LOUIS – Nearly one week after a devastating tornado struck St. Louis – killing five people and damaging thousands of buildings – city officials are focusing on recovery efforts and pushing for any available federal assistance.

The May 16 tornado caused an estimated $1 billion in damages in the City of St. Louis. While leaders are already exploring local funding sources for recovery, including the possible reallocation of $10-20 million in ARPA funds and Rams settlement money, long-term rebuilding will largely depend on federal funding.

During a news conference Thursday, Mayor Cara Spencer expressed confidence that the city is doing everything possible to secure help at local, state and federal levels, but emphasized it cannot be done alone.

“We will put in every effort we can to rebuild St. Louis,” said Spencer. “This also means we are continuing to push for federal funds. This disaster is massive-scale, and no city in the nation can possibly shoulder this alone.”

FEMA crews arrived Wednesday in St. Louis to begin evaluations of tornado damage, an important step in preparing a formal request for federal disaster relief.

“I am satisfied that FEMA is here on the ground with us and we are moving as quickly as possible to get them engaged in the process,” said Spencer. “I am confident we are moving forward as strongly as we can every elected official working with us to make that happen.”

On Monday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe formally requested an emergency disaster declaration from President Donald Trump over last week’s St. Louis tornado. If approved, Missouri could receive up to $5 million in immediate funding for debris removal and other emergency protective measures. An approved declaration would also open the door for direct federal assistance to individuals and businesses.

This request follows earlier and still-pending requests for federal disaster declarations for severe storms on May 14-15 in the St. Louis metropolitan area, in addition to others from March 30-April 8 elsewhere in Missouri. All are still awaiting approval from President Trump.

Only the president can issue an emergency or major disaster declaration.

With all of this in mind, it remains unclear when St. Louis will formally submit its full request for long-term federal aid or how the president may respond.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration has proposed scaling back FEMA’s role and shifting more responsibility for disaster recovery to individual states, raising concerns about how future recovery efforts could be funded.

Near the end of Thursday’s news conference, one reporter asked Spencer whether she was concerned federal funding could be denied. Spencer acknowledged the concerns, but expressed confidence in the city’s response and the support of Missouri leaders.

“Do I have concerns about FEMA? Yes. Look, defunding the areas of federal government that we so badly need to make out communities function well is a huge, huge problem when it comes to this and a whole host of things the city relies on the federal government for. Do I have concerns? Yes. Do I have confidence that we are doing everything we can? Absolutely. Do I have confidence our governor, local elected [officials], our senators and congressmen are doing everything possible? Yes I do. And we are marching forward because that is the only thing we can do. We are marching forward with as much strength as we have. And I have confidence in that.”

Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has also been pushing for a federal disaster declaration over the St. Louis tornado damage, securing a pledge from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and sending a letter to President Trump urging a declaration.