WASHINGTON - Following U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill's call on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend the availability of temporary housing for Joplin residents following last year's destructive tornado, the agency has granted the city's request to extend housing until June 9, 2013.

"These resources are another important step in ensuring the Joplin community has the tools they need to rebuild," McCaskill said. "I continue to be amazed by this community's resiliency and I'm determined to keep fighting to ensure they have the resources necessary to rebuild their homes and businesses, and build an even stronger Joplin."

In a letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, McCaskill urged the agency to extend their contract to provide temporary housing with the city until June 2013. The extension will provide housing for 166 families expected to be in permanent homes by that time. The housing contract was originally set to expire on November 9, 2012.

In June, McCaskill met with members of the Joplin Area Coalition to discuss progress on tornado recovery efforts. At that time, McCaskill announced the U.S. Department of Transportation's approval of more than $12 million in grant resources for Joplin that will create job opportunities in the region with projects aimed at road and rail improvements and expansions.

McCaskill has championed and helped deliver needed resources in Joplin's disaster recovery effort. The total amount of federal resources that have been provided for tornado recovery in Joplin now exceeds $250 million.

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