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The Road to Recovery

Snapshot: Overview of the tornado zone

$1.6B+ Damaged property loss

20+ Neighborhoods

48,000+ Individuals in zone

23,000+ Occupied housing units

5,000+ Damaged structures

1M+ Metric-tons of debris

A bright green tiered fountain in a St. Louis park with storm-damaged trees and houses under a dark, cloudy sky.
A large uprooted tree and scattered debris lay across the sidewalk and front yard of a historic brick house in St. Louis under a grey sky.

Desired Recovery Outcomes

100%
residents connected
to support

100%
eligible-homes repaired

100%
debris removed

100%
public infrastructure restored

Strategic Recovery Pillars

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Recovered Residents

Keep residents safe and create a clear, trusted path forward for families impacted by the tornado.

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Repaired Properties

Repair homes where possible and safely remove structures that cannot be restored.

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Rejuvenated Neighborhoods

Reopen neighborhood anchors, revive local businesses, and restore momentum across tornado-impacted neighborhoods.

Recovery is moving through several phases as St. Louis responds to immediate needs, restores stability, and plans for long-term rebuilding across tornado-impacted neighborhoods.

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PHASE 1: RESPOND
May–July 2025

What Happened, What’s Been Done

The tornado caused severe damage across multiple neighborhoods. Emergency teams cleared roads, restored essential services, and began initial debris removal to stabilize impacted areas. Early assessments documented damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure and helped identify priority areas for recovery.

Additional actions included:

Emergency debris removal and street clearing
Utility restoration and public safety stabilization
Initial property damage assessments
Immediate relief and support services for residents
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PHASE 2: RESTORE
2025–2027

What We’re Doing Now

Recovery efforts are focused on helping residents safely return home while stabilizing damaged properties and neighborhoods.

Volunteers and city workers assisting residents with debris removal and home stabilization in St. Louis
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer speaks at a Tornado Recovery Advisory Committee meeting, with a presentation slide titled "Winter Planning Update" visible in the background.
Orange City of St. Louis Forestry truck parked near workers clearing fallen tree branches from a street.

Read Our Progress Report

Download the latest monthly snapshot of tornado recovery efforts and progress.

View & Download Progress Report
260325 BOA Budget and Public Employees Committee Meeting vPresentation

Track Recovery Progress

With thousands of residents signed up for private property debris removal, home repair, and demolition, our recovery efforts are ramping up! Take a look at what's happening with demolition and home repair through our online progress trackers.

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PHASE 3: REIMAGINE
2027 & BEYOND

What We’re Doing Next

Long-term recovery will focus on rebuilding stronger neighborhoods and restoring economic activity across impacted areas.

Future work will include:

Safer and more resilient housing
Revitalized commercial corridors and neighborhood anchors
Infrastructure improvements
Community-driven planning for long-term renewal
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The Future of Recovery is Community-Driven

Through the PlanSTL Initiative, the City of St. Louis Planning & Urban Design Agency is partnering with residents to shape the future of our neighborhoods. We are currently deploying dedicated resources to the areas below to create comprehensive, community-driven plans.

Planning Area 1

The Ville, Greater Ville, & Kingsway East

The Planning Commission adopted Stronger Northside: Neighborhood Plan for The Ville, Greater Ville, and Kingsway East at the December 17th meeting. This plan was co-created with residents, rooted in their vision for strong, connected neighborhoods where current and future generations can thrive.

Learn More About Plan Area 1 →

Planning Area 4

Hamilton Heights, Wells-Goodfellow, Kingsway West, O’Fallon, Penrose, College Hill, & Fairground

Geographic boundaries include a western portion near Skinker Parkway, extending to Page Avenue and Natural Bridge Road. On the eastern end, the area stretches from Natural Bridge Avenue to Glasgow Avenue, and from Ferry Street to I-70.

Learn More About Plan Area 4 →

Planning Area 5

Panning just over one square mile and are home to 4,789 residents, these neighborhoods are rich in history and distinctive architecture. Together, these neighborhoods reflect the St. Louis’s evolving social and cultural landscape while preserving their unique character.

Learn More About Plan Area 5 →