Disaster assistance approved for Mississippi tornadoes, governor announces

President Donald Trump has approved public and individual assistance over March 14-15 tornadoes that swept through Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday afternoon.

The decision came almost two months after Reeves filed the request April 1 for a major disaster declaration. Media outlets have reported that Mississippi officials have been anxious for a response and lagging with disaster recovery while waiting to hear whether the request would be approved.

Approval comes as FEMA’s future remains uncertain.

Reeves wrote on X: “Thank you, @POTUS, for approving my request for Individual and Public Assistance for counties affected by the March 14–15 storms! Our entire state is grateful!”

He said that 17 counties will receive public assistance for emergency work and to restore public facilities, while residents of 11 counties will be eligible for individual assistance. Individual assistance can include temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans for uninsured property, along with other programs available to individuals and businesses.

The severe weather in mid-March included 18 tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds. Seven people died.

This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription