Gov. Tate Reeves asked President Donald Trump on Thursday to declare a major disaster for eight Mississippi counties after Tropical Storm Arthur caused widespread flooding in June, the governor’s office said. The request covers Covington, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, Stone and Wayne counties.
Local emergency response officials said the storm dropped about 30 inches of rain across parts of Mississippi over a five-day period, with some downpours at rates of up to three inches per hour. The officials said the storm triggered flash flood emergencies, threatened earthen dams and pushed multiple river basins into major flood stage, with six key basins cresting and remaining high for as many as seven days.
State officials reported that the storm damaged 532 homes, 17 businesses and five farms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency have conducted joint damage assessments, and Reeves said those assessments indicate the state has met threshold requirements for federal assistance.
Reeves said, “Mississippians are resilient, but the damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur has left many families and communities facing a long recovery. Today, I requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Trump to help ensure those impacted have access to the resources they need to rebuild. Mississippi will continue to support every community affected as they recover.”
The governor’s office said the request could be amended to add additional counties for individual or public assistance if more damage is discovered. State officials said individual assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured losses and other programs to help residents recover, while public assistance can provide grants to local governments and certain nonprofits for debris removal, emergency protective measures and restoration of public infrastructure. The governor’s office said the president must approve the request before federal aid becomes available.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
