JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced his request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for counties affected by the March 14-15 tornado outbreak was approved by President Donald Trump. The governor initially requested the aid in early April.
During the outbreak, Mississippi experienced 18 tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and straight-line winds. Seven deaths were attributed to those storms. Eleven counties were approved for Individual Assistance, and 17 counties were approved for Public Assistance.
“I’d like to thank President Trump for approving my request for Individual and Public Assistance,” said Reeves. “This support will go a long way in helping Mississippi to rebuild and recover. Our entire state is grateful for his approval.”
“Mississippi needs this financial relief to recover from these devastating natural disasters. The Mississippi congressional delegation stands united in ensuring our communities receive the support they need to rebuild. We thank President Trump for approving the request for assistance, and we remain committed to supporting our constituents as they recover,” the Mississippi congressional delegation said in a joint statement.
Individual Assistance was approved for Covington, Grenada, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith, and Walthall counties. Individual assistance is available to residents in those eleven counties and can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of this disaster.
Here are the counties that were approved for Public Assistance: Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion, Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall, and Washington counties.
The purpose of the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to support municipalities and counties recovering from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoration of public infrastructure. This assistance is not for homeowners or business owners.
Residents in the approved counties who sustained losses during the March 14-15 severe weather can now apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The disaster number is: DR-4874.