The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the deployment of federal resources to the parts of the Mississippi Delta where powerful tornadoes killed at least 26 people over the weekend. President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration on Saturday, March 25.
“The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties,” FEMA said in a press release Sunday.
Gov. Tate Reeves requested the emergency declaration on Saturday morning.
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” FEMA said in a press release on Sunday. “Individual assistance is available to residents in those four 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.”
In addition to the lives lost, Reeves said in a press release Sunday that the storm injured many others and destroyed hundreds of homes. The affected counties have a combined population of about 50,000.
“It’s devastating; it’s very sad to see,” the governor told members of the press while visiting the affected areas on Saturday. “We had the opportunity to get out and speak to a number of the residents. What you see in this disaster and what I’ve seen all day today is heartbreaking for the folks and the families that lost their lives, but also a sense of optimism because you see Mississippians doing what Mississippians do—helping themselves and helping their neighbors.”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, fourth from left, met with Mississippi officials, including Gov. Tate Reeves, center, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, right, and U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, second from right, on Sunday, March 26, 2023. FEMA Photo
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann visited Rolling Fork in Sharkey County on Saturday to see the extent of the damage and visit with those affected by the disaster.
“The devastation, both in terms of loss of life and damage,
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