Local lawmakers spent Monday surveying tornado damage across southwest Missouri.

These tours have become all too common to Ozarkers this year.
During one of these tours, Congressman Roy Blunt got a good look at tornado damage in Barry County this afternoon.
And, he says it won't take long for other government officials to be down here too.


"We've had more than our share of problems,” says Blunt.

That could be an understatement from Congressman Roy Blunt, who has seen plenty of storm damage in his home state recently.

"It does seem like the past 24 months we've had our share of disasters,” Blunt says.

This time it was a tornado in Newton and Barry Counties.
Here, near the town of Purdy, everything Adriana Vella owned was destroyed.

"My mobile home was gone but my family was okay and I was okay,” Vella says.

Blunt says he can’t remember an area of the nation ever being constantly bombarded like southwest Missouri has been lately. And, he promises help is again on the way.

“I think everyone is moving quickly out of recovery mode and into evaluation mode to see the extent of disaster and what kind of federal assistance this storm qualifies for,” Blunt says.

Blunt says FEMA leaders and Small Business Association representatives should be here by Tuesday to help assess the damage.
Governor Matt Blunt also toured damage this afternoon.