Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DR-4429-MS
Mississippi

Incident Period: Feb 22, 2019 - Mar 29, 2019

Declaration Date: Apr 23, 2019

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To Start Your Recovery

Homeowners and renters in Clay, Humphreys, Issaquena, Lowndes, Monroe, Sharkey, Warren and Yazoo Counties who were impacted by the disaster events in February and March are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance.

This assistance may include help to make temporary repairs to a disaster-damaged house, pay for another short-term place to live while permanent repairs are made and/or help with serious, disaster-related needs not already covered by other programs.

To start your recovery:

  • Call your insurance agent to see if there is coverage for your losses under a traditional homeowner’s or renter’s policy, or a flood insurance policy.
  • Document your damage. Take photos or video. Make a list of damaged items.
  • Register with FEMA. The process is free, takes about 20 minutes and is available three ways:
    • Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
    • Use a smartphone to register through http://m.FEMA.gov; click “Apply Online for FEMA Assistance,” and you will be directed to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
    • Register by phone using FEMA’s toll-free registration line by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY call 800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362. Telephone registration is available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
  • Be ready to register. When calling the FEMA number, be prepared to provide your current address, the address of the damaged property, contact information where FEMA can reach you, social security number, the makeup of your household (occupants), insurance and income information.

What Happens After I Apply?

Individuals with residential damage will be referred for an inspection of their house or apartment to see if there is damage that may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

  1. A FEMA inspector will call ahead of time to make an appointment. Be sure to keep that appointment. The inspection cannot take place without a responsible adult with proof of ownership or rental on the premises. If you cannot make the appointment, call FEMA at 800-621-3362, and choose the Helpline option to set up a new appointment.
  2. The inspector will visually look at the damage, review your records and make notes of the impacts. This process generally takes 20-40 minutes.
  3. The inspector will ask to see:
    • Photo identification.
    • Proof of ownership/occupancy for the damaged residence such as homeowner’s insurance, a tax bill, mortgage-payment book or utility bill.
    • Insurance documents: home and/or auto (structural insurance/auto declaration sheet).
    • List of household occupants living in residence at time of disaster.
    • Disaster-related damage to both real and personal property.
  4. That information is electronically transmitted to FEMA for evaluation to see if there are programs that can help defray costs associated with the damage or repairs.
  5. The inspector will not be able to provide a determination at that time of how much assistance you may receive, nor will they condemn property. Their job is to document the damage for consideration of disaster recovery programs. The determination is made after the review of documented damage.
  6. All FEMA inspectors will have photo FEMA ID badges. It is OK to ask to see that ID if it is not readily visible.  If the inspector cannot produce a FEMA ID, do not provide personal information or let him/her into your house. Report the person to local law enforcement immediately.
  7. FEMA housing inspections are free. There is no cost for the inspector or the results.

You may receive a visit from more than one inspector during the recovery process. In addition to FEMA-contracted housing inspectors, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as state and local officials may also visit neighborhoods in affected areas.

Disaster Recovery Centers

Recovery specialists from FEMA, SBA and other state, federal and volunteer agencies are available at Disaster Recovery Centers to provide information on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their applications. Before visiting a recovery center, residents are asked to register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362).

 

Locations and Hours:

Warren County

Vicksburg Mall
3505 Pemberton Square Blvd, Suite 25
Vicksburg, MS 39180

Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Lowndes County

East Columbus Gym
222 Lawrence Drive
Columbus, MS 39702

Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

*Both facilities will permanently close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2019

 

Funding Obligations

Individual Assistance Amount
Total Housing Assistance (HA) - Dollars Approved $1,363,685.52
Total Other Needs Assistance (ONA) - Dollars Approved $318,636.82
Total Individual & Households Program Dollars Approved $1,682,322.34
Individual Assistance Applications Approved 309
Public Assistance Amount
Emergency Work (Categories A-B) - Dollars Obligated $2,640,054.05
Permanent Work (Categories C-G) - Dollars Obligated $20,394,207.85
Total Public Assistance Grants Dollars Obligated $24,116,190.70
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Amount
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) - Dollars Obligated $2,658,145.52
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