President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he approved $11 million in federal disaster aid for Mississippi following severe storms in early May, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Gov. Tate Reeves thanked the president in a social media post, saying he appreciated the approval of the state’s federal disaster request from the May 6 storms and writing, “President Trump loves the people of Mississippi!” Reeves posted on Twitter.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith during a subcommittee hearing that Trump had accepted the request but was awaiting a final damage assessment to determine the amount of federal assistance, the senators said. Mississippi’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, had urged approval in a letter sent shortly after the storms, the delegation said.
State officials said the May 6-7 outbreak produced eight tornadoes, injured 26 people and damaged or destroyed more than 425 homes and businesses across Franklin, Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion and Wilkinson counties.
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
