ST. LOUIS – Nearly $20 million of St. Louis City’s share of the Rams settlement fund will be allocated toward tornado relief and recovery projects, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said Thursday.

The mayor also announced a new contract to ramp up debris clearing efforts and the creation of a Recovery Office to lead the city’s long-term reclamation effort.

Spencer said the city will use $18 million from the Rams settlement, along with $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to immediately support the following areas:

• $2.5 million for resource hubs needs such as meals and supplies, including coolers, port-a-potties, dumpsters, and more
• $2.2 million for unmet needs such as storage of personal belongings, rental assistance, and non-congregate temporary housing
• $5 million for home repairs for the uninsured and underinsured
• $3.5 million for case management, mental health, and legal services
• $1 million to provide cooling through water stations and water sprinklers
• Up to $5 million for nonprofit support, including for resource hub and distribution staffing

“We know the need is greater than this package…But it is a major start, and it is a good start,” Spencer said.

The mayor will present her plan next week at a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Once approved, the funds will be distributed to the applicable departments and service providers in the city within the month.

“These investments are designed to meet the most pressing needs while ensuring programs we are investing in do not overlap with FEMA,” she said.

Spencer named Julian Nicks, the city’s interim deputy chief operating officer, the head of the newly-formed Recovery Office, which will operate from the mayor’s office. Nicks will serve as the chief recovery and neighborhood transformation officer, continuing the relief efforts that began in the City Emergency Operation Center.

The Recovery Office will also take point on community engagement, according to the mayor’s office.

Mayor Spencer said the city has signed a contract with Spirtas Worldwide to bolster its tornado debris removal apparatus. Residents in affected neighborhoods will not have to do anything different; they can continue to put debris along the curb.

Beginning next week, Spirtas will join the debris hauling effort. Starting in the northeastern area of the tornado impact zone, contractors will work through neighborhoods in what’s described as a grid-based approach. Residents can expect to see more heavy machinery and hauling trucks.

Environmental inspectors will be on-hand to check debris piles for potentially hazardous waste that would require separate hauling and disposal. They’ll be joined by hauling monitors who will photograph, catalogue, and document the debris removal. Those reports will be given to the mayor’s office to collect potential reimbursement from FEMA.