Adam Watson (00:00):
Welcome back to “Simplifying the State”, the podcast where we break down politics so you don’t have to rewatch “Schoolhouse Rock” on 2x speed. As always, I’m Adam Watson.

Nicholas Perrin (00:11):
And I’m Nicholas Perrin.

Adam Watson (00:12):
Today’s episode is about something that hit really close to home for people in the Clayton and greater St. Louis area — the tornadoes that tore through on May 16.

Around 2:40 p.m., a tornado formed in St. Louis County. It went on a path of destruction through parts of Clayton, the Central West End, and into North St. Louis City. According to the St. Louis government, there has been an estimated $1 billion in damage and about 5,000 structures damaged or destroyed.

So, Nicholas — where were you when this was happening, and what were you thinking?

Nicholas Perrin (01:24):
I was at school. The sky got dark fast, and they took us inside for the storm. Honestly, I didn’t think anything would actually happen — usually nothing does in Clayton. But wow, was I wrong.

Adam Watson (01:43):
Yeah. I was at the Center of Clayton — the rec center connected to the school — in the gym. I figured we’d get hail, rain, maybe lightning. And that’s all it looked like where we were. Then I got a tornado warning on my phone. I’ve gotten a bunch of those here in St. Louis, but it’s usually for something out in the county or across the river.

They brought us down to shelter, and I remember thinking it seemed like an overreaction. I mean, we’re in Clayton — an urban area, not typical tornado geography. Then my mom texts me saying she thinks a tornado just passed over our house.

At first, I didn’t believe her. But then I saw the news — tornado confirmed in Clayton. And when I walked home, I saw the damage. Our neighborhood got hit pretty hard. The street behind us got it even worse. And yeah — it’s rare to see a tornado form in a dense metropolitan area like this.

Adam Watson (03:16):
So let’s talk about the official response. Most state, local, and federal officials described it as a tragedy and pledged their support.

Governor Mike Kehoe announced that he’s deploying the National Guard — specifically, 45 personnel from the 35th Engineer Battalion — to help with debris clearing in St. Louis City. Nicholas, what do you think of the decision? Should it have come sooner?

Nicholas Perrin (04:08):
Yeah, I think it should’ve. The scope of the damage was obvious the next day. I’m not sure why it took more than a week.

Adam Watson (04:24):
Same. It felt late. The damage was visible almost immediately. Cleanup support from the National Guard could’ve been more useful in those first few days, not more than a week later. But regardless, it should help areas like North St. Louis.

Speaking of North St. Louis, it may have been hit the hardest. A lot of homes were severely damaged — some completely collapsed. Many buildings there have been condemned, and Ameren said it’s cutting power to those structures.

But here’s where things get complicated. Cleanup in Clayton seemed to happen quickly. We saw private contractors in our area the next day, clearing debris and starting repairs. Roads were reopened quickly.

Do you think there was a gap between the aid Clayton got and what North St. Louis received?

Nicholas Perrin (06:57):
Absolutely. I haven’t seen North St. Louis firsthand, but I’ve seen how fast things got moving in Clayton. It’s kind of sad.

Adam Watson (07:17):
Clayton’s higher median income might be a factor. Government response seems equal in effort — the mayor and city teams have been working hard in North St. Louis, especially clearing roads — but private companies flocked to Clayton immediately.

Our roads were cleared the next day. And from what I heard, North St. Louis roads weren’t fully cleared for days.

Do you think the difference in response is due to the greater damage in North St. Louis or to the socioeconomic gap between the two areas?

Nicholas Perrin (08:59):
From what you said, North St. Louis got hit harder. So even if the aid were equal, it still wouldn’t be fair. But if Clayton actually got more help, then yeah, income differences definitely played a role.

Adam Watson (09:29):
Photos show total destruction in parts of North St. Louis — whole homes leveled. Some buildings collapsed from the winds, or maybe because they weren’t built to withstand that kind of force.

We can’t say for sure whether private companies prioritized Clayton because of income, but historically, North St. Louis has been neglected. And it does seem like contractors went where the money is. That’s unfair to families who lost everything.

I read about a woman and her son living in a tent on their lot because their house was condemned. That’s where we need to be sending help.

Let’s shift to another concern — the tornado sirens.

A lot of people, including us, didn’t hear any sirens. I got an alert on my phone, but the actual sirens only went off 20 minutes before the tornado touched down — and not again.

Did you hear any?

Nicholas Perrin (11:53):
No, I don’t think I heard them at all.

Adam Watson (11:56):
I might’ve heard something faint — maybe from outside the city. But in St. Louis City itself? Nothing.

According to reports, the button to activate the tornado sirens wasn’t pushed. NPR said the officials responsible were away at training. KSDK reported that the actual button in the fire department was broken. CBS later stated that the fire department didn’t push the button because they were instructed not to.

Mayor Cara Spencer announced that the city will investigate the incident and revise its protocol for activating sirens.

Adam Watson (16:33)
The damage from the recent tornadoes totaled about $1.6 billion across Missouri and Kentucky.

Now, here’s where things get complicated—FEMA. That’s the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For anyone who doesn’t know, FEMA steps in after disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes—you name it. They help communities rebuild and provide temporary housing for those who’ve lost their homes.

However, here’s the issue: under the Trump administration, there has been a push to reduce funding for FEMA and restructure its distribution, which makes it harder for communities to access support. They also ended a program called BRIC—Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities.

That program was originally created under Trump to provide grants for disaster mitigation—things like dams in flood-prone towns or fire-resistant roofs in wildfire zones. But after Trump returned to office, the program was cut, and communities that had secured funding lost it.
For example, a town received a grant to replace fire-prone roofs, but after the funding was withdrawn, they were left vulnerable again.

Nicholas, what do you think are the risks associated with cutting FEMA’s budget in this manner?

Nicholas Perrin (19:26)
I think we’re already seeing the impact. The response was slow, and it’s fair to say it would’ve been quicker without those budget cuts. If a Category 5 hurricane hit Florida right now, it’d be even worse.

Adam Watson (20:05)
Exactly. It took more than a week to even get FEMA down here. And a community like North St. Louis really depends on that support—most people there don’t have insurance or the financial resources folks in the Central West End or Clayton might have.

Without FEMA, North St. Louis could be permanently set back. Businesses can’t reopen and homes can’t be repaired.

And while St. Louis has its emergency agency, SEMA, their budget is only about $400,000. As of now, late May, they’ve already spent 63% of it. And storm season isn’t over.

That brings me to another point: billion-dollar weather disasters are becoming more common. In 2024, there were 27 weather and climate events that each caused at least a billion dollars in damage, just shy of the record 28 in 2023.

And that number’s only going up. With climate change, these events are going to get more intense and more frequent. The East Coast is heading into hurricane season, not knowing if FEMA will be there to help.

What do you think, Nicholas?

Nicholas Perrin (23:07)
You pretty much covered it.

Adam Watson (23:21)
Okay, then here’s another layer—NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They track storms and weather patterns. Their proposed budget for FY2026 includes a 27% cut. The National Weather Service faces a 30% cut.

Nicholas, how could that affect us?

Nicholas Perrin (24:22)
Well, fewer resources mean less awareness and less preparation. It could especially affect poorer areas that don’t have backup systems. If a storm hits and there’s no early warning, it could be way worse than what we’ve seen in St. Louis.

Adam Watson (25:30)
Right. Early warnings don’t stop damage to property, but they can save lives. Even property damage can be reduced with measures such as sandbagging or boarding up windows.

Nicholas Perrin (25:49)
Exactly. There are ways to reduce a storm’s impact if you know it’s coming.

Adam Watson (26:02)
Sure, though if a tornado hits your house directly, there’s not much you can do.

Nicholas Perrin (26:13)
Just feed the house creatine.

Adam Watson (26:18)
Feed the house creatine?

Nicholas Perrin (26:19)
Yeah.

Adam Watson (26:21)
I don’t think that’s gonna work—but sure. As of February 2025, approximately 880 NOAA employees had been laid off. Another 1,000 or more will leave through buyouts or resignations by April.

With fewer staff and budget cuts, communities may not receive severe weather alerts in time, or at all. And if cities don’t get that info, they can’t sound the alarms or make decisions quickly enough. That puts lives at risk.

And beyond St. Louis, we’re seeing these disasters affect the country as a whole. It’s clear this isn’t going away—it’s accelerating. So, cutting the agencies that help us prepare for and recover from these events? That’s the last place we should be looking to save money.

Nicholas, anything else you want to add?

Nicholas Perrin (28:50)
My right ear’s been ringing for five minutes. I don’t know why.

Adam Watson (28:56)
I meant relevant information.

Nicholas Perrin (29:06)
Maybe it’s barometric pressure from the storm.

Adam Watson (29:14)
Then both ears would ring, not just one.

Nicholas Perrin (29:20)
Nah, my right ear’s smaller than my left. It’s science.

Adam Watson (29:29)
You’re like one of those old TV characters whose knees ache before a storm.

Nicholas Perrin (29:42)
That happens to cats, not people.

Adam Watson (30:11)
I swear that’s a thing on TV. Someone always has a grandma whose knee acts up before a storm.

Nicholas Perrin (30:18)
Guess I’m a grandpa now. Time to sit on my porch with a drink.

Adam Watson (30:25)
Wasn’t exactly the point I was making. Anyway, thanks for listening to “Simplifying the State.”

We’ll be back next week. Summer’s here, but we’ll keep posting episodes to stay on top of everything happening in politics. If you enjoy the show, please rate us on Spotify, subscribe, and follow us wherever you’re listening—on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever else you’re listening.

See you next time.