The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has begun scaling back the number of disaster recovery centers across the state, in coordination with leadership from counties impacted by a destructive swath of mid-March tornadoes.
MEMA announced in a Thursday press release that at the end of business on Saturday, June 21, the centers in Marion, Itawamba, Issaquena, and Pike counties will shut down operations. Survivors will continue to have access to federal relief applications online and over the phone.
Residents in the approved counties who sustained losses during the severe weather that included 18 tornadoes across March 14 and March 15 can call 1-800-462-7585. Those who are hearing or speech impaired should call 1-800-462-7585. The disaster number is: DR-4874.
Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency were approved for Covington, Grenada, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith, and Walthall counties. The program is available to residents and business owners and can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
Public Assistance was approved for Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion, Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall, and Washington counties. The purpose of the program is to support municipalities and counties with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoration of public infrastructure. It does not include assistance for homeowners or business owners.
The following disaster recovery centers, where staff is on site to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance, will remain open until needed:
- Covington County: Bobby Mooney Building at 1613 South Fir Ave., Collins, MS 39428
- Grenada County: Emmanuel Baptist Church at 4661 Commerce St., Grenada, MS 38901
- Jefferson Davis County: Granby VFP at 957 East Stephens Rd., Prentiss, MS 39474
- Leflore County: Leflore County EMA Office at 701 US 82, Greenwood, MS 38930
- Walthall County: Walthall EOC at 908 Amory Dr., Tylertown, MS 39667
As of Thursday, 4,204 registrations have come in for disaster assistance. $9.6 million has been approved to help families recover.
The federal assistance for Mississippians was approved by President Donald Trump on May 23, over two months after the severe weather killed seven and caused millions of dollars in damage.
