Mississippi Governor Barbour Declares State Of Emergency Following Severe Weather

February 6, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour declared a State of Emergency today following the tornadoes and severe weather that struck parts of North Mississippi, including Alcorn, DeSoto, and Lafayette Counties. The Governor is requesting preliminary damage assessment teams from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) due to storm damages suffered by the region.

“Although we are extremely fortunate there have been no reports of loss of life in Mississippi, our thoughts and prayers go out to storm victims in other states, where casualties have occurred. However, we have more than 120 homes and businesses that were damaged or destroyed, as a result of the severe weather,” Governor Barbour said. “Today, I am issuing this State of Emergency as a relief measure to ensure that Mississippians who have been affected by the severe weather will have necessary supplies readily available to them, and that emergency responders will have the authority to provide these services to storm victims in an expedient manner.”

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The State of Emergency will allow state resources to be used in the areas most heavily affected by the storm, which are Alcorn, DeSoto and Lafayette Counties. If an SBA declaration is granted for these areas, storm victims, businesses and non-profit organizations will be allowed to apply for low-interest disaster recovery loans.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency personnel were deployed to assist the counties with preliminary damage assessments and recovery efforts following the storms and remain in the counties continuing that work, along with the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies

Source: Mississippi Governor