Governor Reeves Requests FEMA Federal Assistance Following March Storms

JACKSON, MS - Governor Tate Reeves announced today that he is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration from President Trump for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for counties impacted by the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes on March 14 – March 15, 2025. During that timeframe, the state experienced 18 tornadoes, and sadly, seven people lost their lives.
 
“These storms had a devastating impact on communities throughout Mississippi,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Our state continues to pray for those who lost their lives, are recovering from injuries, and their families. We’ll do whatever it takes to help Mississippi communities rebuild and recover. This request is the next step in that process. The state of Mississippi will be there for as long as it takes.”
 
The state is requesting Individual Assistance for the following 14 counties: Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Holmes, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith, and Walthall.
 
FEMA-validated numbers show that in those 14 counties, 233 homes were destroyed, 208 homes received major damage, 230 had minor damage, and 92 homes were affected.
 
The 17 counties included in the request for Public Assistance are: Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion, Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall, and Washington. These 17 counties have met the damage threshold requirements to be eligible for Public Assistance, with an estimated total of approximately $18.2 million worth of damage.
 
Individual Assistance is for residents in declared counties. It can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of a disaster.
 
The purpose of the Public Assistance Program is to support local governments and certain nonprofits recover from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and the restoration of public infrastructure.
 
The president must approve the request for federal assistance to become available to local and county governments and certain nonprofits. In the meantime, MEMA continues to work closely with state and local officials, hundreds of volunteers, faith-based organizations, and private sector partners to ensure all survivors’ needs are met.