FEMA may be able to pay you back for money you already spent on your recovery. Keep receipts for all the repairs you make and items you replace and provide them when applying for assistance.
Residents in Covington, Grenada, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith, and Walthall counties who had uninsured home or personal property damaged or destroyed during the March 14-15 severe storms, flooding and tornadoes may be eligible for FEMA assistance.
FEMA can only approve home repairs that are not covered by your insurance and are necessary to make your home a safe and functional place you can live in. The repairs that may be eligible for assistance will vary depending on each person’s situation.
Even if you have insurance, we encourage you to apply for assistance. FEMA may be able to help if your insurance coverage isn’t enough.
Rental Assistance: If you can’t live in your current home or rental property because of the disaster, FEMA can help you pay rent for other housing.
FEMA may also provide assistance to repair or replace personal property for renters and homeowners that fall within the following categories:
- Appliances: Includes standard household appliances, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, etc.
- Clothing: Essential clothing needed due to overall loss, damage, or contamination.
- Room furnishings: Standard furnishings found in a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.
- Essential Tools: Tools and equipment required by an employer as a condition of employment, tools or equipment for those who are self-employed, and items required as a condition of an applicant’s or household member’s education. Eligible tools may include:
- Computers
- Equipment such as power tools, art materials, tractors, utility vehicles, lawnmowers and ladders
- Uniforms
- Accessibility Items: FEMA also provides assistance for damaged personal property items required because you or someone in your home has a disability.
- You must meet the following conditions to receive Personal Property Assistance:
- The item needs to be repaired or replaced due to disaster damage.
- Someone in the household still needs the disaster-damaged item. FEMA may not provide assistance if you can meet that need with another similar item you already have.
- The item was owned and being used by occupants of the household.
- FEMA does not help with furnishings and/or appliances provided by a landlord.
- Items used by guests and relatives who were not members of the household are not eligible for assistance.
Assistance for damaged vehicles
- First, file a claim with your insurance company if you have a comprehensive policy. FEMA assistance may help fill the gaps for those whose coverage does not pay for any or all storm-related damage costs.
- When you apply for FEMA assistance, you will need to verify the following:
- Your vehicle was damaged during the storms, tornadoes and flooding.
- Prove ownership of the vehicle with valid registration and title.
- A minimum of liability insurance that meets the State of Mississippi requirements.
- You have no other usable vehicle.
Privately Owned Roads and Bridges: If the only access to your home has been damaged by the disaster, FEMA may be able to pay for the required repairs.
Private wells and septic systems: If your well and septic system has been damaged by the disaster, FEMA may pay for the cost of a professional, licensed technician to visit your home and prepare an estimate detailing the necessary repairs or replacement.
In addition to the technician’s estimate, FEMA may also pay for the actual repair or replacement cost of your septic system or well. Neither is typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.
At the time of your home inspection, let the FEMA inspector know you have a private well and/or septic system that may have been damaged by the storm.
There are several ways to apply for assistance:
- Download the FEMA mobile app
- Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. The Helpline is available daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT.
- Visit a Disaster Recover Center. For locations and hours visit: fema.gov/drc
For the latest information about Mississippi’s recovery, visit msema.org or fema.gov/disaster/4874.
