Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Legislature in a three-hour session Thursday approved $17 million to help pay for recovery from disasters, including tornadoes that recently pounded the state.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant originally said he would ask lawmakers for up to $20 million. However, officials said $17 million will be enough to cover costs until January, when the Legislature begins is 2015 regular session.

As part of a deadly outbreak across the Midwest and South, 23 tornadoes struck Mississippi last week, killing 14 people and causing at least $13.5 million of damage. Recovery costs could increase as officials continue assessing losses.

The state will pay local governments' costs for debris removal. The state also will lend money to local governments for other expenses.

The cities of Louisville, in central Mississippi, and Tupelo, in the northeast, were especially hard hit.

Democratic Rep. Steve Holland of Plantersville, who lives just outside Tupelo, expressed gratitude to government groups, including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, for providing quick response to the storms that damaged hundreds of homes and businesses in the state. He said faith-based groups and other charities also have stepped in to help.

"We're Tupelo strong," Holland said.

Mayor Jason Shelton, who was at the Capitol with several City Council members, said the city's utility, Tupelo Water & Light, has incurred at least $5.5 million in damage. He said the city would have to pay 12.5 percent but wasn't sure what the overall cost would be.

"We're still having to wade through the details of it," Shelton said.

At least 300 buildings were destroyed in Winston County, which has a population of about 19,000. In the county seat of Louisville, the hospital was heavily damaged and patients were evacuated.

In disaster recovery projects, the state government typically is pays about 12.5 percent of the cost and the local government pays 12.5 percent, with the federal government paying 75 percent. The federal government pays the full cost of recovery aid to households.