Jackson Free Press

[Statement from Chip Pickering/verbatim] PEARL, MISS -- Congressman Chip Pickering announced today that FEMA has added 31 counties to the individual assistance disaster designation and 29 counties have been added to the public disaster designation.

"When President Bush visited Mississippi yesterday, this was one of the top issues we discussed with him. I visited some of my district today and local officials and citizens told me FEMA was not responding to them because they were not classified in the individual assistance disaster area. The White House responded to our request this afternoon and approved these counties, which will now be able to receive both federal reimbursements for approved public expenses as well as direct assistance on the individual level. I will continue to work with Governor Barbour and the delegation to assist in the relief and recovery from Hurricane Katrina," Pickering said.

The counties added to the FEMA individual assistance designation are Adams, Attala, Claiborne, Choctaw, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Hinds, Jasper, Jefferson, Jeff Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Warren, Wayne and Winston. The Individuals and Households Program provides financial help and direct services including temporary housing, homeowner housing repair or replacement, medical expenses, funeral costs, purchase of household items including furniture and appliances, educational materials such as school books, fuel, and other necessities.

The counties added to the public assistance designation are Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Lafayette, Leflore, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Washington and Yalobusha counties. Public assistance includes reimbursements for FEMA approved expenses including transportation; labor costs for shelter workers, security and drivers; shelter operations costs; clean-up and medical services.

Congressman Pickering urged residents affected by the hurricane to contact FEMA for assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA.

Chip Pickering is serving his fifth term as a Republican member of the United States Congress, representing the Third District of Mississippi. He is assistant majority whip and is Vice-Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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