PEARL, Miss. -- Residents of 11 Mississippi counties who suffered damages as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of April 15 and April 27-28 are urged to register for disaster assistance as soon as possible.
Officials with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency said residents and business owners who sustained losses can register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or for the speech- or hearing-impaired TTY 1-800-462-7585. These toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice.
Federal funding has been made available to eligible individuals in Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Hinds, Jasper, Kemper, Lafayette, Monroe, Neshoba and Webster Counties.
Registrations also may be completed online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov, or with a web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov
MEMA State Coordinating Officer Mike Womack urged affected residents “to go online or make that call, to make that first step towards recovery.”
Individuals and business owners should register even if they have insurance. Some losses may not be covered by insurance but federal grants may cover those expenses.
Registering with FEMA is required for federal assistance, even if the person has registered with another disaster relief organization such as the American Red Cross, local officials or churches.
Applicants will need to provide:
- Social Security number.
- Address of the damaged property.
- Description of the damage.
- Information about insurance coverage.
- A current contact telephone number.
- An address where they can get mail.
- Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.
"We understand that the people of Mississippi have been through some tough times, and we are here ready to help. We strongly recommend that you register right away," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Terry L. Quarles.
Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, medical and burial expenses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.