The federal government is stepping in to offer assistance to local officials and nonprofits in an additional 18 Mississippi counties impacted by Winter Storm Fern.
While the weather event occurred weeks ago, its effects still linger in the northern and Delta regions of the state, mainly in the form of debris and damage to homes, businesses, and other facilities. To help in the recovery process, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering public assistance grants to support debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities damaged by the storm.
Local governments and nonprofits in the following counties are eligible for federal aid: Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union and Yalobusha.
These 18 counties join Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster, Yazoo and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which were previously approved for all categories of public assistance.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump allocating $39.1 million for storm relief in Mississippi earlier this month. At the height of the storm, more than 180,000 power outages persisted, while many residents were unable to navigate roadways due to ice and debris covering the roadways. 29 deaths were attributed to the storm in Mississippi.