Barbour could seek recovery aid this week

The Clarion-Ledger, 4/23/8

Bolstered by his eyewitness inspection, Gov. Haley Barbour could request federal assistance for recovery in the state’s flood-ravaged areas as early as this week.

Barbour is awaiting reports of damage assessments before making a formal request, his spokesman Pete Smith said Tuesday.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with state and local officials, still were surveying the damage from Mississippi River flooding, said Jeff Rent, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s taking longer for some areas, especially in Bolivar County, which are more remote and tougher to access,” Rent said Tuesday.

“We hope to see the assessments done in the next couple of days.”