President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the federal government has approved an $11 million disaster aid package for Mississippi, following severe weather and tornadoes in May, according to his social media posts.
The aid comes after Gov. Tate Reeves requested a federal disaster declaration on May 19. The storms destroyed 88 homes, damaged 425 others, and injured 26 people across Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, and Wilkinson counties, officials said.
The National Weather Service reported seven tornadoes hit the state on May 6. One EF3 tornado was more than a mile wide at one point and remained on the ground for nearly 70 miles, authorities said.
This marks the second major disaster declaration Mississippi has received in 2026. The first was for Winter Storm Fern in January. Less than two weeks ago, Tropical Storm Arthur caused flooding and severe weather, damaging 565 homes, including 150 destroyed and 152 with major damage, officials said.
Neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency nor the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency had announced the disaster declaration as of Wednesday afternoon. MEMA said it was still awaiting details on the assistance available. Gov. Reeves requested aid through both the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs. All six members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation supported the call for federal aid, officials said.
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
