FEMA aid opens for tornado victims, local filing centers coming soon
FEMA aid is now open in five Mississippi counties, with in-person filing centers set to help tornado victims apply and keep receipts for reimbursable costs.
Federal disaster aid is now open for residents hit by the May 6-7 tornado outbreak in Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln and Wilkinson counties, and FEMA filing centers will soon be set up in several counties to help people apply in person. Governor Tate Reeves requested the major disaster declaration on May 19, and President Donald Trump approved it on July 2 as FEMA-4922-DR-MS.
The declaration covers Individual Assistance for all five counties and Public Assistance for Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence and Lincoln counties. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency counted seven tornadoes, 26 injuries and no deaths, with 425 homes damaged statewide. FEMA-validated estimates in the five counties counted 88 homes destroyed, 112 with major damage, 140 with minor damage and 85 additional homes affected.
For households, the aid can reimburse eligible out-of-pocket costs tied to the storm, including hotel stays and other emergency purchases. MEMA chief communications officer Scott Simmons urged residents to keep receipts, document expenses and stay away from anyone claiming to represent FEMA.
The most serious storm was an EF-3 tornado that stayed on the ground for nearly 70 miles from Wilkinson County to Lawrence County and stretched more than a mile wide. An EF-2 also hit Lamar County, while weaker tornadoes touched down elsewhere in the state. More counties could be added later if additional damage is identified.
Local governments can use Public Assistance money to recover at least 75% of eligible response and recovery costs. FEMA separately approved more than $22 million for 13 recovery projects tied to the January 2026 severe winter storm, including $12.8 million for Lafayette County, $5.2 million for Panola County, $727,479 for the City of Oxford, $702,852 for the City of Water Valley and $597,883 for the City of Corinth.
MEMA placed Mississippi's disaster recovery funding this year at roughly $150 million.
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