CLINTON, Miss. – In the more than two months since Hurricane Isaac struck Mississippi, $28 million in state and federal aid has been approved to help those affected.
MEMA and FEMA provide the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Nov. 5:
- More than 6,400 households have received FEMA grants that assist with housing and personal property loss.
- More than $13 million has been approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.
- More than $2.4 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
- Nearly $7.5 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist homeowners, renters and businesses.
- Nearly 20,500 home inspections have been completed.
Those who received money from FEMA must keep the receipts or bills for which the money was used. The records document that the assistance was used to meet disaster-related needs and must be saved for three years. For more on what should be kept, consult the “Help After a Disaster” guide, which was mailed to each applicant. Information is also available online at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.
Survivors with any questions can go online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. Or call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at
800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Nearly 26,000 survivors in designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary homes were unlivable or inaccessible.
Although the registration period has closed, those who have applied for disaster assistance should stay in contact with FEMA if they change their mailing address, phone number or e-mail address, if they receive an insurance settlement, or discover additional damage by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
The Helpline also is available for Mississippians who have needs not met by federal assistance. It is a good source of information referring survivors to state and local organizations and partner agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors also may call 2-1-1 to be connected to volunteer or faith-based organizations that may be able to help them with resources and needs.
Businesses that need help may contact the SBA directly at the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY) 800-877-8339, send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.