McComb Enterprise-Journal
Hyde-Smith seeks update on disaster declaration following tornadoes
By FROM STAFF REPORTS
Federal officials are reviewing Mississippi’s request for a disaster declaration following last month’s tornado outbreak, and U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith expressed optimism that it will be approved.
The senator asked for an update Tuesday on the request that, if approved, will provide assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to recover from multiple tornadoes that hit the state on May 6 and 7.
“Mississippi recently submitted requests for both public assistance and individual assistance following the tornadoes on May the 6th and the 7th, very close to where I live, and we’re still waiting for a determination,” Hyde-Smith said at a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
Gov. Tate Reeves asked for the federal disaster declaration last month after tornadoes hit Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln and Wilkinson counties.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar said President Donald Trump has accepted the request and that final assessments are being made.
“My understanding is that we're still working with the state to do the final assessment,” Mullin said. “We know the declaration has been made by the governor. We know the president did accept that declaration, but now we’re looking at what the cost is for our funding to actually reimburse for public assistance.”
Edgar said Mississippi’s request is one of 13 instances of natural disasters awaiting approval for federal assistance.
Hyde-Smith also asked about possible changes in FEMA public assistance thresholds for natural disasters after the FEMA Review Council issued a report recommending changes.
“States like Mississippi closely monitor FEMA’s public assistance disaster declaration thresholds,” she said. “You know, we have a lot of hurricanes, we have a lot of tornadoes, and there’s just been considerable discussion regarding potential changes to these thresholds and what they mean for states’ ability to qualify for this assistance.”
She asked for clarification on whether FEMA will adjust individual states’ disaster thresholds for public assistance and a timeline for the possible changes.
“We are looking at ways to reform it,” Mullin said. “FEMA was never set up to be the complete all. It was supposed to be there to assist, not to be the final solution, assist the state or the community on its bad day when they met certain qualifications.
“For us to look at grant systems for the state and allow them to be responsible for it when they hit certain thresholds is something that we are looking at for public assistance, and that we think the dollar will go farther. The president has made it very clear that he wants to put the dollar closer to the resource.”