ST. LOUIS 鈥 Beyond immediate needs tied to shelter and safety, preservation experts and local officials say they鈥檝e heard a common refrain in the aftermath of last month鈥檚 deadly tornado that ravaged parts of 51黑料, bringing down multiple brick structures:
kAm(92E鈥橠 8@:?8 E@ 364@>6 @7 2== E92E 3C:4< 7C@> 52>2865 3F:=5:?8D 鈥 2?5 9@H 42? E96 4:EJ D2G6 E96 >2E6C:2= E92E鈥橠 2 5:DE:?4E DJ>3@= @7 $E] {@F:D AC:56 2?5 :56?E:EJ 7C@> =2?57:==D 2?5 A@E6?E:2= =2C46?Jnk^Am
kAm鈥(6鈥機6 @?6 @7 E96 76H ECF=J 3C:4< 4:E:6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ[鈥 D2:5 p=56C>2? |:4926= qC@H?:?8 @7 E96 hE9 (2C5] 鈥渪E DA62<D E@ E96 492C24E6C @7 E96 4:EJ] %92E鈥橠 2 492C24E6C H6 H2?E E@ AC6D6CG6]鈥漦^Am
kAm~? |2J `e 2? tub E@C?25@ 4FE 24C@DD E96 4:EJ 7C@> E96 r6?EC2= (6DE t?5 2?5 :?E@ ?@CE9 $E] {@F:D ?6:893@C9@@5D @7 9:DE@C:4 C65 3C:4< 9@>6D[ =:<6 u@F?E2:? !2C<[ <:==:?8 7:G6 A6@A=6] w@>6D 2?5 3F:=5:?8D H6C6 E@AA=65 3J E96 DE@C>[ =62G:?8 C@@>D H:E9@FE H2==D @C C@@7D[ 2?5 4C62E:?8 >@F?E2:?D @7 3C:4<[ =F>36C 2?5 >@C6]k^Am
kAm$E] {@F:D鈥 DEC@?8 3C:4< 96C:E286 DEC6E496D 324< H6== @G6C 2 46?EFCJ 鈥 @C 6G6? E@ A2DE >:==6??:2[ :? 2 86@=@8:42= D6?D6] %96 =@42= 23F?52?46 @7 4=2J AC@G:565 E96 >2E6C:2= E92E :?5FDEC:2=:DED =:<6 E96 wJ5C2F=:4 !C6DD qC:4< r@] 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ F?E@=5 G@=F>6D @7 3C:4<[ DE2CE:?8 :? E96 `g__D]k^Am
kAmuC@> :ED $E] {@F:D 9F3[ E96 4@>A2?J 8C6H E@ 364@>6 E96 H@C=5鈥橠 3:886DE 3C:4< AC@5F46C[ 2?5 4C62E65 H92E 鈥42>6 E@ 36 <?@H? 2D E96 A6C764E 3C:4<鈥 H:E9 2 C65 E:?86[ D2:5 (:== "F2>[ 2 r9:428@\32D65 2C49:E64EFC6 6IA6CE H9@ =625D 3C:4<\C6=2E65 E@FCD[ 2?5 H:== G:D:E $E] {@F:D E@ 8:G6 2 E2=< 23@FE 3C:4<D =2E6C E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAm鈥(96? J@F E9:?< @7 E9:D A=2E@?:4 :562= @7 2 3C:4<[ J@F鈥機6 A:4EFC:?8 2 3C:4< >256 :? $E] {@F:D 3J E96 wJ5C2F=:4 !C6DD qC:4< r@][鈥 96 D2:5] 鈥$E] {@F:D H2D E96 C62= 6A:46?E6C @7 3C:4< 72D9:@? :? E96 =2E6 `hE9 46?EFCJ]鈥漦^Am
kAmqC:4<D 42? E2<6 @? 5:776C6?E 9F6D 2?5 492C24E6C:DE:4D[ 32D65 @? =@42= 86@=@8J H96C6 E96:C 4=2J :D 92CG6DE65] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 3C:4<D 7C@> r9:428@ 2?5 |:=H2F<66 2C6 5:DE:?4E=J =:89E6C :? 4@=@C E92? E9@D6 >256 96C6]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ E96 8=@CJ 2?5 8C:E @7 $E] {@F:D 3C:4< 92D >256 E96 >2E6C:2= 2 E2C86E E92E 42? 76E49 AC6>:F> AC:46D[ 2?5 :D 4@G6E65 3J D2=G286CD[ 3C:4<J2C5D[ 3C2K6? E9:6G6D 2?5[ 6G6?EF2==J[ 3F:=56CD 6G6? @FE @7 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm鈥!6@A=6 =@G6 E96 =@@< 2? @=5 3C:4< 2?5 E96J H:== A2J 8@@5 >@?6J 7@C :E[鈥 "F2> D2:5] 鈥%96J H2?E E96 =@@< @7 2 3C:4< E92E 92D H62E96C65 7@C `__ J62CD 2D @AA@D65 E@ 2 >@56C? 3C:4< E92E :D >2J36 E@@ A6C764E]鈥漦^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E92E 2C@F?5 r9:428@[ C64=2:>65 $E] {@F:D 3C:4<D 2C6 D6==:?8 7@C S`]d` 6249[ @C Sg__ 7@C 2 A2==6E @7 db_ 3C:4<D] %92E鈥橠 2=>@DE a_T >@C6 E92? C64=2:>65 鈥渞9:428@ r@>>@?鈥 3C:4<D[ H9:49 96 D2:5 8@ 7@C S`]ad 2A:646]k^Am
kAm%92E 2AA62= @7 $E] {@F:D 3C:4< :D C2:D:?8 762CD E92E E96 E@C?25@ 4@F=5 2446=6C2E6 E96 =@?8\6DE23=:D965 EC6?5 @7 $E] {@F:D鈥 D2=G2865 3C:4< =62G:?8 E@H?[ @7E6? 7@C 56DE:?2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 D@FE96C? &]$][ H96C6 :E 42? 4@>>@?=J 36 D=:465 FA 2?5 FD65 2D 4=255:?8]k^Am
kAm鈥*@F 92G6 A6@A=6 H9@ H:== =@D6 E96:C 9@>6D 2?5 H:== E96? =@D6 E96:C 3C:4< E@ D@>6 >F=E:>:==:@?\5@==2C 56G6=@A>6?E :? E96 $@FE9[鈥 D2:5 "F2>]k^Am
kAmx? E96 H66<D D:?46 E96 E@C?25@[ $E] {@F:D C6D:56?ED[ G@=F?E66CD 2?5 H@C<6CD 92G6 368F? D:7E:?8 E9C@F89 ;F>3=65 A:=6D @7 CF33=6 7C@> E96 52>2865 3F:=5:?8D E92E >2J 36 4@?56>?65 2?5 6>AEJ @C 4@==2AD65[ D@>6E:>6D D6EE:?8 2D:56 E:5J DE24<D @7 3C:4<D]k^Am
kAm#6D:56?ED D2:5 E96J 2?5 E96:C ?6:893@CD :?E6?5 E@ C6FD6 E9@D6 :?E24E[ D2=G2865 3C:4<D E@ C63F:=5 2?5 C6A2:C E96:C 9@>6D]k^Am
kAm鈥渪 92G6?鈥橢 962C5 2?J@?6 D2J 2?JE9:?8 23@FE D6==:?8 E96:C 3C:4<D[鈥 D2:5 #:492C5 t==:D[ 2 u@F?E2:? !2C< C6D:56?E H9@ H2D 96=A:?8 H:E9 H@C< 2E 2 ?62C3J 9@>6 @? %9FCD52J ?:89E] 鈥%92E 92D ?@E 6G6? 366? 2 5:D4FDD:@?]鈥漦^Am
Bricks from the family home of Gale Davis on Labadie Avenue sit neatly in a pile on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as a family member carries lumber inside for repairs. Davis and her family plan to repair their damaged facade with the bricks they鈥檝e salvaged from the May 16 tornado that left the house without a roof.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
k9amp 92==>2C< 3C:4< 4:EJk^9am
kAm$E] {@F:D 3C:4< :D 2 G2=F65 A:646 @7 =@42= 9:DE@CJ[ 86@=@8J 2?5 2C49:E64EFC2= 7=2G@C] tG6? 367@C6 E96 E@C?25@ DECF4<[ 4:EJ @77:4:2=D H6C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE 9@H E@ AC@E64E :E]k^Am
kAm鈥!6@A=6 2C6?鈥橢 DEFA:5 鈥 E96J 5@ G2=F6 :E[鈥 D2:5 |:4926= p==6?[ 2 9:DE@CJ AC@76DD@C 2E (6DE ':C8:?:2 &?:G6CD:EJ H9@[ F?E:= =2DE J62C[ H2D 2 =64EFC6C @? 2C49:E64EFC2= 9:DE@CJ 2E (2D9:?8E@? &?:G6CD:EJ] 鈥%96J ;FDE >:89E ?@E G2=F6 E96 3F:=5:?8 :E 4@>6D 7C@> 2D >F49 2D E96 4@>>@5:EJ :E 86?6C2E6D H96? :E鈥橠 56>@=:D965]鈥漦^Am
kAmqFE ?@E 2== $E] {@F:D 3C:4< 92D E96 D2>6 2AA62=] $2=G286CD 2C6 86?6C2==J =@@<:?8 7@C 3C:4<D >256 :? 2 鈥淒H66E DA@E鈥 7C@> 23@FE `h__ E@ E96 `hb_D[ D2:5 zJ=6 {2?D:?8[ 2 =@42= D2=G286C 2?5 AC6D6CG2E:@? DA64:2=:DE] q67@C6 E92E[ 96 D2:5[ 3C:4<D H6C6 @7E6? 92?5\AC6DD65]k^Am
kAm鈥%9:D DF>>6C鈥橠 8@??2 36 7F==[ ;FDE :? ?@CE9 4:EJ[鈥 D2:5 {2?D:?8] 鈥%96C6鈥橠 D@ >F49 DEF77 FA E96C6 E92E D9@F=5 36 D2G65 E92E x 9@A6 E@ 36 2 A2CE @7]鈥漦^Am
kAmp?@E96C 492==6?86 4@>6D 7C@> E96 =:>:E65 42A24:EJ @7 D2=G286 H@C<6CD 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 D42=6 @7 C68:@?2= DE@C> 52>286[ 2?5 E96 D=@H6C A246 @7 C64=2>2E:@? H@C<[ H9:49 :D 5@?6 3J 92?5]k^Am
kAm鈥減 =@E @7 E9@D6 3F:=5:?8D 2C6 DE:== 8@:?8 E@ 36 DE2?5:?8 :? D:I E@ 6:89E >@?E9D[鈥 D2:5 p==6?] 鈥渪 E9:?< E96C6鈥橠 E:>6 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 2E D42=6] xE 5@6D?鈥橢 92G6 E@ 36 5@?6 2== 2E @?46]鈥漦^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 9@>6D[ 49FC49 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D E96 E@C?25@ 7F==J @C A2CE:2==J E@AA=65 92G6 366? :? 72>:=:6D @C 4@?8C682E:@?D 7@C 564256D] ~E96CD 2C6 4:EJ\@H?65[ =625:?8 D@>6 2=56C>6? :? 92C5\9:E H2C5D E@ BF6DE:@? E96 EJA:42= AC24E:46 @7 9:C:?8 =@42= 56>@=:E:@? 4@?EC24E@CD H9@ H@C< 2E 2 5:D4@F?E65 AC:46[ :? 6I492?86 7@C E96 C:89E E@ C6D6== 3C:4<D @C @E96C D2=G28623=6 >2E6C:2=D]k^Am
kAm%96 @77:4:2=D H@?56C :7 :E 4@F=5 36 2 36EE6C 562= 7@C E96 4:EJ E@ A2J >@C6 7@C 56>@=:E:@? H@C<[ H9:=6 86EE:?8 E@ <66A E96 3C:4<[ :?DE625 鈥 6DA64:2==J H96? E96 >2E6C:2= 4@F=5 36 FD65 :? C63F:=5:?8 677@CED]k^Am
kAm鈥(92E :D E96 8C62E6C 4@DEn鈥 2D<65 p=56CH@>2? {2FC2 z6JD @7 E96 4:EJ鈥橠 ``E9 (2C5[ H9@ D2:5 D96 5:D4FDD65 E96 >2EE6C H:E9 E96 >2J@C鈥橠 @77:46 @? |2J `b[ E9C66 52JD 367@C6 E96 E@C?25@] 鈥(@F=5 :E 36 36EE6C 7@C FD 2D 2 4:EJ :? E96 =@?8 CF? E@ 8@ 29625 2?5 A2J E96> @FEC:89E 鈥 2?5 E2<6 4FDE@5J @7 E9@D6 3C:4<Dn鈥漦^Am
kAmp=56CH@>2? $92C@? %JFD @7 E96 `aE9 (2C5 28C665 E92E 2 492?86 D9@F=5 36 6IA=@C65 E@ AC6G6?E 7FCE96C 6IA@CED @7 E96 4:EJ鈥橠 3C:4<D[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 D2=G286 H@C< D6E E@ F?7@=5 鈥2E DF49 2 =2C86 D42=6[鈥 D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥渪 H@F=5 =@G6 E@ D66 E92E DE@A 92AA6?:?8 2?5 E92E H6 H@F=5 D2G6 E96> 2?5 <66A E96> :? E96 ?6:893@C9@@5[鈥 %JFD D2:5] 鈥渪 H@F=5 =@G6 E@ D66 E96 3C:4< E2<6? 324< 2?5 <6AE :? $E] {@F:D]鈥漦^Am
kAms6>@=:E:@? 2?5 D2=G28:?8 :D?鈥橢 E96 @?=J H2J G2=F23=6 3C:4<D =62G6 ?6:893@C9@@5D 鈥 E967E 92D =@?8 366? 2 4@?46C?[ 6DA64:2==J 7C@> G242?E 3F:=5:?8D] %JFD[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ D2:5 E92E D6G6C2= J62CD 28@[ D96 H2E4965 2 鈥淗9@=6 82C286 36 DE@=6?[ 3C:4< 3J 3C:4<[鈥 :? 96C ?6:893@C9@@5]k^Am
kAmqC:4< 86?6C2==J C6AC6D6?ED E96 >@DE G2=F23=6 >2E6C:2= E92E 42? 36 D2=G2865 7C@> 2 56>@=:D965 9@>6[ 6IA6CED D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥渪? E96 >:5DE @7 C64@G6CJ[ E9:6G6D 42? @7E6? 3=6?5 :? 2?5 =@@< =:<6 4@?EC24E@CD[鈥 D2:5 p==6?[ E96 AC@76DD@C] 鈥(9@鈥橠 8@:?8 E@ D64@?5 8F6DD[ :? E96 >@>6?En鈥漦^Am
kAm#F>@CD @7 C646?E 3C:4< E967ED :? E@C?25@\52>2865 2C62D 92G6 366? 4:C4F=2E:?8[ 4:EJ @77:4:2=D 2?5 C6D:56?ED D2J[ 3FE $E] {@F:D A@=:46 DA@<6D>2? |:E49 |4r@J D2:5 $2EFC52J E96 56A2CE>6?E :D?鈥橢 2H2C6 @7 2?J C6A@CED 36:?8 7:=65]k^Am
kAm%@ 96=A C6E2:? 2?5 AC@E64E >@C6 @7 E96 4:EJ鈥橠 3C:4<[ z6JD[ %JFD 2?5 @E96CD 9@A6 E@ D66 E96 >2E6C:2= 7F??6=65 E@H2C5 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60_faba7h7\cfg7\ca3b\326g\_bghc65dhg7a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm鈥3C:4< 32?<鈥漦^2m C6A@D:E@CJ E92E =@42= C6D:56?ED 4@F=5 5C2H 7C@> 5FC:?8 7FEFC6 4@?DECF4E:@? @C C6DE@C2E:@? 677@CED] #6D:56?ED 2?5 E96 4:EJ 4@F=5 DE@C6 E96:C 3C:4<D 2E 2 D64FC6 =@42E:@?[ D2G:?8 E96> E@ FD6 @? E96:C @H? C63F:=5D[ @C D92C6 H:E9 @E96CD]k^Am
kAmp?5 2=E9@F89 3C:4< 32?<:?8 :D 2 C6=2E:G6=J F?E6DE65 4@?46AE[ $E] {@F:D 4@F=5 36 2D 8@@5 2 A=246 2D 2?J 7@C :E E@ E2<6 C@@E[ p==6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥$E] {@F:D[ 36:?8 <:?5 @7 2 92==>2C< 3C:4< 4:EJ[ >:89E 36 2 A=246 E@ DE2CE[鈥 96 D2:5] 鈥渪E鈥橠 2 8C62E 492?46 E@ E6DE E96 G:23:=:EJ @7 E92E :562]鈥漦^Am
kAmx7 ?@E9:?8 :D 5@?6[ 96 D2:5[ 4FCC6?E EC6?5D DF886DE E92E E96 >2E6C:2= H:== =:<6=J 6?5 FA :? A=246D =:<6 u=@C:52 @C E96 $@FE9H6DE]k^Am
kAm鈥*@F鈥== D66 :E :? !9@6?:I[ pC:K@?2[ @C E96 DF3FC3D @7 ~C=2?5@[鈥 96 D2:5] 鈥渪E鈥橠 D25 7@C $E] {@F:D]鈥漦^Am
Here's a look at the news two weeks after an EF-3 tornado hit areas of 51黑料 on May 16, 2025. Video by Allie Schallert, Post-Dispatch
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
