Mississippians affected by Winter Storm Fern are encouraged to be on the alert for scammers charging people to fill out disaster assistance applications.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said that bad actors have been coercing storm victims to pay $150 for assistance in completing paperwork for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration. The aid is available for residents living and working in the 36 Mississippi counties that were hit hardest by the Jan. 23-27 weather event.
To avoid being scammed, MEMA officials urge the public to go to the government agency’s website, which provides information on disaster loan programs.
We’ve received reports of people charging storm victims $150 to complete their FEMA and SBA Assistance applications. No one from FEMA, SBA or MEMA will charge you to fill out paperwork. Avoid being scammed by going to our MEMA WEBSITE for all you need to know. pic.twitter.com/3bgzDkt9b2
— msema (@MSEMA) May 4, 2026
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith weighed in, adding that government agencies will never charge money to help fill out disaster assistance paperwork. The Republican lawmaker from Mississippi said residents can always contact her office, along with the agencies involved in administering loans, if they have any questions.
“Reports have surfaced of scammers charging storm victims to complete these applications – don’t fall for it. This service is always free,” Hyde-Smith said.
Winter Storm Fern impacted over half of Mississippi, destroying trees and power lines, leaving roughly 180,000 customers without power at its peak, and killing 29. As of late February, more than 12,000 insurance claims had been filed, totaling over $107 million, according to the Mississippi Insurance Department.
