WashU Study Examines St. Louis' Disaster Preparedness Gaps After Tornado

Report highlights lack of funding, disconnect between community groups and government

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A study from Washington University's Brown School has identified gaps in St. Louis' emergency preparedness and response, including a lack of funding and a disconnect between community organizers and the city government. The report was updated after a devastating tornado hit St. Louis in 2025, and it calls for better coordination between government agencies and grassroots organizations to build a more resilient and equitable disaster response system.

Why it matters

The study found that St. Louis' fragmented infrastructure, outdated emergency plans, and disjointed agency coordination limited the city's ability to respond effectively to the 2025 tornado. It highlighted the crucial role that underfunded community organizations played in the immediate disaster response, filling gaps left by the city government.

The details

The report examined St. Louis' emergency preparedness through a social work lens, noting the disconnect between the city's resources and the work being done by grassroots community groups. It found that coordination between government agencies and community organizations was often "ad hoc, siloed, and reactive" rather than strategic. The study also pointed to the effects of the divide between St. Louis City and St. Louis County, as well as between different county municipalities, on disaster preparedness.

  • The study was put together by graduate students at the Brown School before the tornado on May 16, 2025.
  • The study was updated after the EF3 tornado caused widespread destruction in St. Louis in 2025.

The players

WashU's Brown School

A graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis that conducted the study on St. Louis' disaster preparedness.

Sara Mendiola

A former Brown School student who worked on the study.

Victoria Anders

Another former Brown School student who worked on the report.

Molly Metzger

A professor in the Brown School's Master of Social Work program who taught the course in which the students wrote the study.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which announced $23 million in additional funds for St. Louis' tornado recovery efforts.

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What they’re saying

“I think the tornado ended up acting in a way that highlighted the holes in our system. When you have something so extreme and so quick happen like that, there's no chance to scramble and patch up the holes really quickly.”

— Sara Mendiola, Former Brown School student (studlife.com)

“What became so clear was that the immediate response to community needs was not being filled by the city. Largely, it was being filled by community organizations and by the community itself, like people stepping up and giving donations and providing their time and energy to help with clean up.”

— Victoria Anders, Former Brown School student (studlife.com)

“We need to connect the dots between … the people on the ground who are giving [and] talking to people affected by the emergencies and the people at the top who are making up the rules on how to decide what we're supposed to do in an emergency.”

— Sara Mendiola, Former Brown School student (studlife.com)

“We really need to come together and have a coordinated strategy to make this city resilient ahead of the next disaster. That's what is needed.”

— Victoria Anders, Former Brown School student (studlife.com)

“We need more infrastructure within the city. The place where most of that lives is the City Emergency Management Agency. They had just finished processing all of the payments and everything from the 2022 flood in St. Louis when the tornado hit. They need more capacity to do all the things we're expecting.”

— Molly Metzger, Professor, Brown School (studlife.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This study highlights the need for better coordination and communication between St. Louis' city government, community organizations, and emergency management agencies to build a more resilient and equitable disaster response system. Addressing the fragmentation and lack of resources in the current system is crucial to ensuring the city is prepared for future emergencies.