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

Registration has ended but stay in contact with FEMA to keep your recovery process moving

• Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 if you have questions about how to file an appeal, the status of your claim, or other disaster-related issues.
• If you registered with FEMA and are still awaiting a final settlement from your insurance company, be sure to update FEMA once your insurance claim is settled. You may still be eligible for grant assistance if your insurance didn’t cover all of your essential disaster-related needs.
• Keep FEMA updated with your most current mailing address and phone numbers.
• If you get a letter from FEMA saying you’re ineligible, read it carefully. You may simply need to provide additional information or documentation and the letter will explain how to follow up. Again, call the helpline if you have questions.
• If you have questions about your application for a disaster loan from SBA, call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.  

What to Do if You Disagree With FEMA's Decision Letter

SBA, HUD an Important Part of Storm Recovery in Mississippi

FEMA’s federal partners played a vital role in helping survivors of the January tornadoes in South Mississippi.

“The value SBA and HUD bring to disaster recovery cannot be overstated,” says Joe Girot, DR-4295-MS FCO. “Having HUD and SBA embedded in the JFO allowed us to coordinate local, state and federal resources in a timely and efficient fashion. That makes a tremendous difference for the survivors and communities in Mississippi.”

SBA may be the most visible of FEMA partners because the agency provides the single largest source of disaster recovery funds through its loan programs. “It’s our role to assist FEMA and other partners in helping survivors understand the recovery process,” notes Agustin “Gus” Fernandez, field operations specialist for SBA. “All survivors should know the resources available to them. Plus, Mississippi is a very forward-thinking state with the goal that all unmet needs are met. SBA helps those who can recover on their own, FEMA helps those who can’t.”  

HUD representatives confirmed that working with FEMA and other federal partners ensures a better understanding of needs that helps guide services needed for recovery.

Jerrie Magruder, HUD field office director stationed at the Mississippi JFO, said, “HUD’s longstanding working relationship with housing authorities, city and county governments made our being embedded in the Mississippi JFO an ideal conduit on issues that FEMA needed addressed. Direct access to officials ensured they were kept informed of the needs of the community and how they could help in real time, when it was needed. Moreover, it helped provide assistance to Mississippi Regional Housing Authority 8 in amending its plan to allow for a preference for disaster victims.”

HUD and SBA assisted survivors at disaster recovery centers and served on the Mississippi Unified Housing Task Force, which coordinated and leveraged resources from local, state, federal and voluntary agencies to address unmet housing needs of displaced survivors.

"In Mississippi we must leverage all assets to help our disaster survivors not only immediately after an event but in the months and years after as our communities rebuild," said MEMA Executive Director Lee Smithson. "HUD and SBA are integral partners in restoring our communities to normalcy and I don't know what we would do without them."

Get the latest information

For more information on Mississippi’s tornado recovery, visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org. Follow MEMA on Facebook facebok.com/msemaorg and on Twitter @msema.

For information on local long-term community recovery efforts, visit www.R3SM.org.