A video circulating on social media has sparked outrage and urgent calls for federal and state intervention for Black neighborhoods in St. Louis hit by a tornado recently.
The video reveals that predominantly Black neighborhoods in St. Louis have been left without aid after the devastating tornadoes.
In the video, a concerned woman issues a passionate plea for immediate assistance, claiming that sections of the city hardest hit by the storm—specifically those predominantly inhabited by Black residents—have received little to no emergency support, while wealthier, whiter areas nearby are already receiving aid and supply trucks.
“St. Louis, right in the city of St. Louis—the Black part of town—is not being taken care of the way they need to be,” the woman says in the video. “There’s still no power. They don’t have water… Google ‘St. Louis, Missouri, tornado 2025’ and look at what’s happening.”
She also criticized the lack of transparency and accountability from local and federal authorities, stating that a state of emergency had not been declared even days after the destruction. According to the video, misinformation from city officials may have downplayed the extent of the damage, hindering federal relief efforts from agencies like FEMA.
“Why are we paying taxes if our money is not going to help us?” she asked, urging viewers—particularly well-connected individuals and white allies—to flood FEMA and elected officials with demands for equitable disaster response.
Not long ago, Capital B News carried a detailed report about the neglect of Black communities affected by the May 16 disaster, noting that the lack of federal response left its most vulnerable residents dangerously exposed.
On social media, the viral plea by the unnamed woman has prompted many to point out longstanding racial disparities in disaster recovery.
Advocates are now urging Missouri state officials, FEMA, and the Biden administration to investigate the lag in response and deploy immediate assistance to the overlooked communities.
