One Year Later: Tornado Recovery Impact Report

On May 16, 2025, a devastating EF3 tornado struck St. Louis, with the majority of damage concentrated in  North St. Louis City. Within three days, the St. Louis Community Foundation launched the St. Louis Disaster Relief Fund to support organizations providing immediate, intermediate, and long-term recovery efforts. The fund was designed to provide critical gap funding alongside other public and community recovery initiatives. Additionally, the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance Fund was utilized to assist early childhood centers impacted by the tornado, and the Regional Response Fund supported critical infrastructure for volunteer groups.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the fund has distributed $1.13 Million to 24 organizations addressing urgent community needs across three primary focus areas: shelter and housing, moving and storage assistance, and food insecurity. To ensure nonprofit partners could prioritize response and recovery efforts, reporting requirements were intentionally streamlined during the grantmaking process.

Thanks to the generous support provided by this funding, we were able to secure temporary housing for Ms. Brock, ensuring she had a safe and stable environment during this difficult time. With your help, repairs to her home are now underway. While she has not yet been able to return, this progress brings her closer to reclaiming the place that holds deep family and cultural significance. The grant is making it possible for Ms. Brock to move from crisis toward restoration—providing hope, dignity, and the promise of home. ~ Mission: St. Louis

While much progress has been made over the past year, recovery efforts across St. Louis are still ongoing. We invite you to read the full May 16 – Tornado Recovery Impact Report to learn more about the organizations, partnerships, and community-led efforts helping families and neighborhoods continue to recover and rebuild. As long-term needs remain, continued support will help ensure resources and assistance reach those still navigating the lasting impacts of the storm. To contribute to ongoing recovery efforts, please visit here.

 

The the purpose of the St. Louis Disaster Relief Fund is to provide support to organizations that are providing immediate, intermediate, and long-term support to the people, businesses, and neighborhoods impacted by the tornado. These funds will be used to provide gap funding from other community and public funding efforts.