MISS. DELEGATION APPLAUDS TRUMP FOR APPROVING MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR MISSISSIPPI
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) today applauded President Trump for approving Mississippi’s request for a major disaster declaration following deadly Winter Storm Fern, which struck the state Jan. 23-27, 2026.
This approval unlocks federal resources to support recovery efforts across Mississippi. The declaration approves Public Assistance for 38 counties.
“We thank President Trump for approving Mississippi's major disaster declaration. These resources will help our communities rebuild after Winter Storm Fern. We are grateful for this immediate response from the administration,” the Mississippi congressional delegation said in a joint statement.
Following the storm, the delegation signed a letter to President Trump in support of Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a major disaster declaration.
“State and local resources, along with those of volunteer organizations, are insufficient to meet Mississippi’s recovery needs. Strong federal support and coordination will be essential to help communities recover and rebuild,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.
Click here to read the Federal Disaster Declaration Fact Sheet provided by FEMA.
Background:
- All categories of Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance, were approved for Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster, and Yazoo counties, as well as for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
- Public Assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance, for Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Coahoma, DeSoto, Hinds, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, and Yalobusha counties.
- Individual Assistance is under review.
The FEMA notice indicates that additional assistance designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
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