Coast counties get federal relief for Isidore damage

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Oct. 2, 2002
President Bush has declared Mississippi a disaster area, making counties hit hardest by Tropical Storm Isidore eligible for federal aid.
Gov. Ronnie Musgrove asked for $15.3 million in federal disaster assistance on Monday after touring damage on the Gulf Coast Friday with Joe Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Relief is available for people in Amite, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Pike and Stone counties. The money can be used for disaster housing, grants, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property and other programs to help people and businesses recover.
Funding is also available to local governments on a cost-sharing basis for repairs or replacement of public property damaged by the storm in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lincoln, Pearl River and Pike counties.
A statement from the White House on Tuesday said FEMA is still surveying the damage in Mississippi and additional counties may be added after the assessment is finished.
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran praised the Bush administration for its quick response.
Residents and business owners who had losses in the counties mentioned can apply for assistance today by calling FEMA between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at (800) 621-3362, or (800) 462-7585 for the hearing- and speech-impaired.