Jul. 29, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A number of Northwest Missouri counties have been included in a request for federal disaster assistance to speed recovery from flooding and storms in the region.

Gov. Jay Nixon wrote to President Obama, it was announced Wednesday morning, to seek public assistance for Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway and Worth counties, among others.

A request for individual assistance went to the president for the counties of Andrew, Buchanan, Daviess, Holt and Livingston, among others elsewhere in the state.

The governor also wrote to Tom Vilsack, the U.S. secretary of agriculture, to name 55 Missouri counties as primary disaster areas. Such a designation allows assistance for agriculture operations from the federal Farm Service Agency.

Among the counties cited for agricultural hardship and losses are: Andrew, Caldwell, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Platte and Worth.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0283-47421237