I live in U City, north of Delmar, and far from the tornado itself. Nevertheless, my car got hammered by the hail, and most of my neighborhood lost power for a couple of days. A few branches down, but wind didn't really seem to be a big issue over here.
Recovery? Regarding the rebuilding its not going to happen. Re-building numerous and large brick structures takes knowledge time expertise and money
Better to tear it all down haul it away and replace the grounds with the new junk apartments we see being built all over the country. Whatever any re-build ends of being (of which I doubt there will be any} it takes money and lots of money and from where/whom does that money come from?
And we will ask why has there be little to no re-build in numerous n city neighborhoods for decades?
The answer to that question will begin to focus the answer as to why all of these damaged/destroyed properties are not going to be rebuilt.
As we enter the second week of tornado response, it’s become increasingly clear that the City’s efforts have been inadequate, bordering on negligent. If not for the rapid mobilization of grassroots organizations like Action STL, For the Culture, and the Early Childhood Tornado Response Team, several neighborhoods and entire streets might still be waiting for basic assistance. These groups stepped into a vacuum left by City Hall, providing everything from debris removal to supply distribution, while the official response floundered.
The Mayor continues to lean on the “I’ve only been in office 30 days” excuse. While technically true, it’s disingenuous. She has been “in the room” for nearly a decade, as alderperson, as a committee chair, and in other roles, totaling well over 3,500 days in city government. That kind of tenure brings with it not only institutional knowledge but also responsibility. Claiming inexperience at this stage rings hollow.
From the outset, communication has been a mess. This is partly due to the fact that the Mayor’s appointed communications director lacks any experience in disaster response and has been virtually invisible throughout the crisis. Equally troubling is the absence of the Mayor’s Director of Operations and Director of Public Safety, two roles that should be central in any coordinated emergency response. Their low profile during a time of public need raises serious concerns about the structure and readiness of the city’s leadership team.
One thing the Mayor has handled with some political skill is shielding the Fire Chief after his department’s role in failing to activate the warning sirens. Rather than accountability, what we’ve seen is deflection. In an especially telling move, the Mayor failed to inform alderpersons or other citywide elected officials in advance about the de facto dismissal of Emergency Management Commissioner Sarah Russell. Yet, at the same time Monday night, she called on them to appear at a press conference to “show unity”, knowing full well the media would press her on the siren failures. It was a sharp political maneuver, if not a particularly transparent or ethical one.
Unfortunately, there’s little reason to believe the recovery effort will meaningfully improve in the weeks ahead. The burden remains on citizens and community groups to organize, assist, and advocate. Unless there’s a significant change in leadership approach, this recovery will be driven not by City Hall, but by the people themselves.
Governor Kehoe Announces Activation of the Missouri National Guard to Support Tornado Recovery Operations in St. Louis
Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that the Missouri National Guard will activate and deploy up to 41 engineering personnel to the affected area of St. Louis to support the key mission of debris removal and sorting to support tornado recovery operations.
Some of the debris included roofing insulation material that floated in the air. Was fiberglass used to insulate roofs - if that is the case I am worried about inhaling fiberglass. Should I be concerned?
Asbestos has been brought up too. My old house didn't have any insulation at all, so I wonder just how much asbestos there really is if it wasn't put in houses when they were built. Hopefully the rain Monday night knocked a lot down. If you're working on debris, definitely wear a mask, just like any demo job. If you're out and about near the damage zone, wear a mask if you like, can't hurt.
Asbestos has been brought up too. My old house didn't have any insulation at all, so I wonder just how much asbestos there really is if it wasn't put in houses when they were built. Hopefully the rain Monday night knocked a lot down. If you're working on debris, definitely wear a mask, just like any demo job. If you're out and about near the damage zone, wear a mask if you like, can't hurt.
Asbestos has been brought up too. My old house didn't have any insulation at all, so I wonder just how much asbestos there really is if it wasn't put in houses when they were built. Hopefully the rain Monday night knocked a lot down. If you're working on debris, definitely wear a mask, just like any demo job. If you're out and about near the damage zone, wear a mask if you like, can't hurt.
Mine had asbestos in the insulating tape and insulation of some of the ducts. It can also be in old linoleum floor tiles and possibly the mastic used to secure them. (I have distinct memories of watching a custodian heating a tile with a plumber's torch to melt the mastic and put it in place when I was in high school. I doubt that you could do that with a new tile.) Also boiler jackets and things like that. Certain concrete formulations for flu liners. High temperature stuff, where flammability was a concern. And the dust from lead paint could be bad too. I did some outside cleanup work Saturday and didn't wear them, but it's probably never a bad idea. And for serious demo I can completely believe you'd want to go full bunny suit. I'd say listen to the pros and do what they do. (My dad the chemist went full bunny suit when we were testing in my basement when I bought my place. We had most of it remediated and the rest encapsulated.)
Asbestos has been brought up too. My old house didn't have any insulation at all, so I wonder just how much asbestos there really is if it wasn't put in houses when they were built. Hopefully the rain Monday night knocked a lot down. If you're working on debris, definitely wear a mask, just like any demo job. If you're out and about near the damage zone, wear a mask if you like, can't hurt.
Mine had asbestos in the insulating tape and insulation of some of the ducts. It can also be in old linoleum floor tiles and possibly the mastic used to secure them. (I have distinct memories of watching a custodian heating a tile with a plumber's torch to melt the mastic and put it in place when I was in high school. I doubt that you could do that with a new tile.) Also boiler jackets and things like that. Certain concrete formulations for flu liners. High temperature stuff, where flammability was a concern. And the dust from lead paint could be bad too. I did some outside cleanup work Saturday and didn't wear them, but it's probably never a bad idea. And for serious demo I can completely believe you'd want to go full bunny suit. I'd say listen to the pros and do what they do. (My dad the chemist went full bunny suit when we were testing in my basement when I bought my place. We had most of it remediated and the rest encapsulated.)
We are expecting baby and soon after tornado on that Friday as roads were blocked, we could not take our car out so we walked for about 30 minutes with no mask with debris flying. Should we be concerned?
As part of your evaluation, your health care provider discusses your health history, occupation and exposure risk to asbestos. During a physical exam, your health care provider uses a stethoscope to listen carefully to your lungs to determine if they make a crackling sound while inhaling.
Asbestos has been brought up too. My old house didn't have any insulation at all, so I wonder just how much asbestos there really is if it wasn't put in houses when they were built. Hopefully the rain Monday night knocked a lot down. If you're working on debris, definitely wear a mask, just like any demo job. If you're out and about near the damage zone, wear a mask if you like, can't hurt.
Mine had asbestos in the insulating tape and insulation of some of the ducts. It can also be in old linoleum floor tiles and possibly the mastic used to secure them. (I have distinct memories of watching a custodian heating a tile with a plumber's torch to melt the mastic and put it in place when I was in high school. I doubt that you could do that with a new tile.) Also boiler jackets and things like that. Certain concrete formulations for flu liners. High temperature stuff, where flammability was a concern. And the dust from lead paint could be bad too. I did some outside cleanup work Saturday and didn't wear them, but it's probably never a bad idea. And for serious demo I can completely believe you'd want to go full bunny suit. I'd say listen to the pros and do what they do. (My dad the chemist went full bunny suit when we were testing in my basement when I bought my place. We had most of it remediated and the rest encapsulated.)
We are expecting baby and soon after tornado on that Friday as roads were blocked, we could not take our car out so we walked for about 30 minutes with no mask with debris flying. Should we be concerned?
I doubt it. Ask your doctor. There's PM2.5 around all the time that isn't asbestos to worry about.
They will have 4 collection sites. It's up to others to get the debris to those sites. Not what people envision when they think of the National Guard is coming to help.
StlToday - National Guard arrives in St. Louis, readies collection sites for tornado debris
"Rodgers, who said her home is still without power, said much of the debris and brick from her lot came from the crumbling, long-vacant home next door."
This is what makes the 2025 St. Louis tornado unlike any disaster in maybe all of American Urban History. Vacancy contributed to a more violent debris cloud. Further, the recovery requires removal of thousands of ownerless buildings worth of material, not including vegetation/trees. The ratio of LRA/vacant/uninsured properties with material debris puts this already enormous challenge uniquely on the back of the City of St. Louis.
In other words, if anyone in STL has a free Saturday....no you don't!
stlurbanist wrote:2. Why did so many mature trees get uprooted. Did I miss the discussion on this topic somewhere?
When a storm like this comes through, the winds come at all directions, particularly directions that most of these trees were never pushed on from.
That “pushing” plus all the leaves that act like a sail and you get a downed tree.
hmmm - I am still not convinced that the decade old and century old trees got uprooted by sheer wind. Could ground saturation have played a role? Were roots not deep enough?
I've been spending as much time as I can in the affected area trying to do my part, but surprisingly I haven't run into Paul McKee. I would have assumed he and his team would be doing the same since they are so invested in the area and community...
