Eighteen Mississippi Counties Now Eligible for All Categories of FEMA Public Assistance

ATLANTA - Local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in 18 Mississippi counties are now eligible for Public Assistance grants to support debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities damaged by the January winter storm.

The newly eligible counties are Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union and Yalobusha. These counties were previously approved for federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

These 18 counties join Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montogomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster, Yazoo and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which were previously approved for all categories of Public Assistance.

FEMA's Public Assistance program reimburses local and state government agencies for the costs of emergency response, debris removal and restoration of disaster-damaged public facilities and infrastructure. Certain nonprofit organizations and houses of worship may also be eligible for assistance.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments. For the latest information about Mississippi's recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4899.