The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has now granted over $2.6 million to survivors of the April 8-11 severe storms and tornadoes.
FEMA noted in a news release that of the total amount in grant money, up to this point, $1.6 million has been for housing assistance while more than $1 million has been categorized as “other needs assistance,” meaning it will go to help with personal property damages, childcare, transportation, and other needs.
While federal aid opened on June 11 to victims in Hancock, Hinds, Humphreys, Madison, Neshoba, and Scott counties, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Jeremy Slinker reminds people that it’s not too late to apply for assistance.
“In this instance, some may have already done some repairs and already cleaned up after the storms – they’re still eligible,” Slinker said. “And we just want to keep encouraging if you were impacted by this storm, don’t guess about whether you’re eligible or whether you have eligible storm damage. Apply, and the process will let you know what you’re eligible for. We have all different programs that cover a wide variety of different things.”
Currently, there are seven disaster recovery centers open to help survivors apply for federal assistance, check the status of their applications, and provide referrals to resources. Survivors who would prefer to apply for assistance online can visit DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.