DISASTER DECISIONS: Breaking down the FEMA process

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI)- Mother Nature has released her share of fury across the Magnolia State. With President Trump’s recent disaster declaration, federal help is coming.

The areas named in that declaration include Lowndes County. It was February 23
when an EF-3 twister roared through Columbus.

That weekend, many will remember forever after lives were uprooted, and homes flooded.

After months of digging through the rubble and cleaning up the mud, help from the federal level is happening. The process of getting FEMA assistance, however, is quite complex, but it comes down to money.

“It’s splitting the pipe. It is determining how much the federal government will put in,
the state resources, are they there, the community, municipality resources, are they there,” said Mississippi Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Counties and the state have to meet a certain estimated cost in damages in order for FEMA to set up shop.

When disasters like tornadoes strike, local emergency management asses the damage and report it to MEMA (our state emergency management) who then gathers the data to request FEMA federal help.

In Mississippi, damage costs were estimated at least $4.5 million.

“Once the counties meet their threshold, they’re all added up, and if the state meets $4.5 million dollars or above then we request a federal declaration, and we’ve not been turned down on one yet,” said MEMA Executive Dir. Greg Michel.

That is for public assistance. Meaning, FEMA will reimburse part of the cost of clean up efforts and rebuilding.

It’s whole other ball game when it comes to applying for individual assistance which so far, has been denied.

“It’s based on the socioeconomic situation in those counties or municipalities, it’s based on population. All of that comes into play and then the damage on the homes is based on major or destroyed homes only,” said Michel.

Homes with minor damage aren’t even eligible to be part of the individual assessment. Even with individual assistance, the highest amount a person gets is $35,000.

“You’re not talking about a home being completely replaced in a situation like that,” said Michel.

FEMA guidelines have changed continuously as we see more storms and catastrophic storms like Hurricane Katrina.

Those changes forced state local leaders to adapt.

We’ll have more on that part of Disaster Decisions Thursday night at 6:00 p.m.

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