Jackson Free Press

[verbatim from Gov. Barbour's office] Governor Haley Barbour has been notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Hinds County will receive a major disaster declaration from the President due to the April 4 severe storms and tornadoes. "I am grateful to FEMA for making a serious review and recognizing that sufficient damages did exist even though preliminary information didn't make our case very well. FEMA gave us a fair second chance, which resulted in this decision that will help speed recovery from these devastating storms," Governor Barbour said.

The first request for a major disaster declaration for Hinds County was denied on April 18 due to insufficient damage. MEMA officials, working along with Hinds County and the City of Jackson, requested that second preliminary damage assessment teams from FEMA to tour the damage area again.

The first damage assessment teams that toured the area on April 8 had the following findings:

Debris estimates were 127,380 cubic yards in the city of Jackson and Hinds County.

At least 25 homes damaged, 112 homes with major damage and 144 homes with minor damage.

The second assessment teams that toured the area on May 13-15 had the following findings:

Debris estimates were more than 191,000 cubic yards in the city of Jackson and Hinds County.

More than 800 homes and apartments were damaged, and more than 380 of those families were found to possibly need federal assistance.

Previous Comments

ID

130303

Comment

'Bout time.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-05-30T07:58:50-06:00