Webster is among the counties added to a federal disaster declaration.
Gov. Phil Bryant’s request for the 13 additional counties to be added to Federal Disaster No. 4429 for all categories of public assistance has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
On April 23, Bryant announced that President Donald Trump originally declared Calhoun, Chickasaw, Clay, Grenada, Lowndes, Pontotoc and Tishomingo counties as federal disaster areas. That brings the total number of counties declared to 20.
The declaration is in response to the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that impacted Mississippi from Feb. 22-Feb. 24, and ended with the rising of the Yazoo Basin backwater flooding on March 29.
The public assistance categories are:
Category A: Debris Removal.
Category B: Emergency Protective Measures.
Category C: Roads and Bridges.
Category D: Water Control Facilities.
Category E: Buildings and Equipment.
Category F: Utilities.
Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items.
The individual assistance request (assistance to individuals and households) was denied. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will appeal the ruling to FEMA.
MEMA announced the addition of the new counties that can receive public assistance on May 1.
Mississippi is also approved statewide for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which is for measures/actions taken that reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards.
