The federal government appears to have granted Mississippi’s request for aid following a series of May storms and tornadoes, but the specifics of the approval remain unclear.
In a Tuesday social media post, President Donald Trump said he has signed off on Gov. Tate Reeves’ major disaster declaration request from May 19, unlocking federal funding for areas affected by the severe weather. A total of seven tornadoes struck Southwest Mississippi and the Pine Belt on May 6 and May 7, bringing powerful winds and flash flooding and causing catastrophic damage.
“I just spoke with Governor Tate Reeves, and informed him that the Great State of Mississippi has been approved to be given $11 Million Dollars in its Disaster Declaration Request for Severe Storms, Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s post does not specify which Mississippi counties will be eligible for the federal funds, nor does it detail the types of assistance made available under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In his May petition to the White House, Reeves requested Individual Assistance for residents of five counties—Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln and Wilkinson—along with Public Assistance for local governments in those counties.
State officials told the Mississippi Free Press that they’re waiting on FEMA to share the specifics of the declaration before moving forward with recovery efforts.
“We asked for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance, and we don’t know if (the president) has approved both,” said Scott Simmons, chief communications officer at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. “There’s an $11 million figure that he listed on his social media post, but we don’t know which (assistance category) that’s for.”
Simmons says MEMA is prepared to expand its disaster response in hard-hit areas as soon as these questions are answered. The May storms and tornadoes damaged hundreds of structures—including more than 400 homes—across the five counties, and local governments are still working to clear debris from roads and other public areas, Simmons said.
“Often the most expensive aspect of (disaster recovery) is debris removal, and so some of these counties are doing what they can,” he told the Mississippi Free Press, “But they’re also hoping and waiting to get some money to cover their costs.”
While Simmons expressed hope that Trump’s declaration includes individual and public assistance, the federal funding announced Tuesday may only apply to one of these categories. Earlier this year, Mississippi received Public Assistance approval within weeks of Winter Storm Fern, but residents had to wait almost three months before the White House granted Individual Assistance.
The Mississippi Free Press reached out to Reeves’ office for additional details on the approved declaration but did not hear back by press time. The governor and other state officials shared the president’s post on their own social media pages and expressed gratitude for the funding.
“Great talk with POTUS today – I really appreciate his approval of my federal disaster request from the May 6 storms,” Reeves wrote on X Tuesday. “President Trump loves the people of Mississippi!!”
The Mississippi Free Press will continue reporting on the president’s disaster declaration and provide more details as they emerge.
Mississippi Free Press stories are always free because we believe everyone should have access to quality journalism. Donations from readers like you make that possible. Please click here to give to help sustain and grow vital, people-over-power journalism for Mississippians.
Readers can sign up for our free newsletters here.
