COLUMBIA - Missouri's U.S. Senators both voted yes Thursday on a disaster aid bill that includes fresh resources for farms and communities impacted by flooding across the state.

“The flooding in our state has been completely devastating in some areas – from destroyed homes to lost crops to damaged infrastructure,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri. “Relief is finally one step closer to reaching these communities so they can recover and rebuild.

The bill includes $4.5 billion for the USDA to repair damage to farmlands, rebuild infrastructure and rural community facilities and provide assistance for crop losses in flood impacted states, including Missouri. 

Another $3 billion will fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair waterways infrastructure, including repairs of local levees that were breached or damaged in Missouri and elsewhere.

The Transportation Department's highway emergency relief program to repair roads and bridges will get 1.6 billion.

Blunt said it was an important start.

"As the full scope of the damage becomes clear we must be ready to provide any additional assistance that is needed. And, we need to look at ways the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can better manage the Missouri River to help prevent catastrophic flooding in the future,” he said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said passage of the aid package will help get people back on their feet.

“This is an important step forward that expedites the assistance that Missourians need," he said.