The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency are on hand to assist the state of Mississippi following a string of tornadoes that devastated the region.
President Joe Biden has officially declared a major disaster for Mississippi, authorizing the use of federal disaster assistance to bolster standard recovery operations, according to a March 26 news release. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell have traveled to the affected regions in the state to assess the damage.
“It is inspiring to see people, not just the people in Mississippi, but the people of this country, assisting those in such dire need,” Mayorkas said in the release. “In disasters like this, there are no strangers: everyone comes together, everyone is a neighbor, everyone is family. They cannot do it alone, and the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA will be here as long as it takes. The entire federal family is here to support these communities.”
“FEMA is here. We remain committed to the people of Mississippi,” Criswell said during a news conference in Rolling Fork, according to the release. “We will be here for you now, we will be with you next week, we will be here long after these cameras are gone to make sure we are assisting you with all your recovery needs.”
Affected regions of the state authorized to receive federal aid include Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties, the release reported. Assistance may come in the form of low-interest loans, crisis counseling, subsidies for home improvements and temporary lodging, as well as other initiatives to aid in the recovery process.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other nonprofit organizations have made resources available to help disaster victims, according to the release. There are three shelters currently open and other resources include bottled water, potable water tankers, tarps, portable restrooms, hand washing stations, batteries, bank chargers and fuel for power generators.
