The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Mississippi’s request for additional counties to receive public assistance following February’s winter weather event.
Throughout the week of Feb. 11-19, Mississippi experienced multiple rounds of winter weather resulting in an estimated $25 million worth of damage to public infrastructure. With the additional counties, a total of 36 counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are eligible to apply for federal public assistance.
After further assessments, Webster and four other counties are now eligible to apply for public assistance for FEMA Disaster 4598, the Mississippi EMA announced Thursday. The president signed the original disaster declaration May 4.
On Feb. 16, the Webster County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation of the existence of a local emergency from the winter storm and adopted a resolution requesting the governor to proclaim a state of emergency in the county. Two representatives from MEMA met with the board, county EMA Director Barry Rushing and Deputy EMA Director Tom Booth in mid-March about documenting road damage from February's winter storms, which left heavy accumulations of sleet, ice and snow. MEMA worked with counties and FEMA to complete joint damage assessments.
Bordering Clay County was also added to the major disaster declaration. The bordering counties of Choctaw and Grenada were previously approved by FEMA for public assistance.
The purpose of the Public Assistance Grant Program is to support municipalities and counties recovering from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, lifesaving emergency protective measures and restoring public infrastructure. This assistance is not for homeowners or business owners.
The five counties designated in July have until Aug. 6 to apply for Public Assistance categories A, B, C, D, E, F and G, according to a news release from FEMA. The agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will be available statewide.
A public notice is now available that addresses FEMA’s intention to reimburse eligible applicants in the five additional counties for costs to repair or replace facilities damaged by the severe winter storms.
The public notice describes proposed activities that may affect historic properties and activities and critical actions that may affect wetlands and floodplains. The notice is posted on FEMA’s Mississippi disaster declaration website at https://www.fema.gov/disaster-federal-register-notice/dr-4598-ms-public… and MEMA's website at https://www.msema.org/news/.
