JOPLIN, MO - The federal government has denied the city of Joplin an extension on an upcoming tornado cleanup deadline.
City and state leaders requested an extension of the Federal Emergency Management's Expedited Debris Removal Program. FEMA only allows 75 days for removal of debris from areas wiped out by a natural disaster. That deadline expires Sunday. The program foots 90% of the costs of removal through the first 75 days, 75 percent after that.
The deadly EF5 tornado killed 160 and damaged or destroyed 8,000 homes and business May 22.
