RELEASE
COCHRAN, WICKER, PALAZZO OFFER RECOVERY ASSURANCES AFTER HURRICANE NATE LANDFALL
Miss. Leaders Also Encourage Mississippians to Heed Advice of Local Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) today said they are ready to work with federal and state agencies to ensure a strong response following the landfall of Hurricane Nate.
The lawmakers also encouraged Mississippians to take note of advice and warnings from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (http://www.msema.org/), as well as state and local officials and law enforcement agencies.
“Mississippians will once again show their resolve in the face of a hurricane,” Cochran said. “We know that the recovery process will take time and cost money, and we will work to ensure that Mississippi has the resources it needs. Together, we will recover from this storm just as we have in the past. In the meantime, we should follow the advice of the first responders and volunteers on the ground, who are working admirably to help those affected.”
“Hurricane Nate is no match for Mississippians’ resilience,” Wicker said. “We understand that a full recovery does not happen overnight, and I know that the Coast will bounce back quickly. I am working closely with state and local officials to get an accurate picture of the damage, and we stand ready to work with the Trump Administration to ensure that needed federal resources will be delivered to storm victims.”
“We’ve been here before. In South Mississippi we know what to do and now we need to get to work. As Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I will make sure relief is expeditiously approved, if necessary, and we will be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Palazzo said.
Hurricane Nate made back-to-back landfalls overnight, first at the mouth of the Mississippi River and then between Gulfport and Biloxi early Sunday morning as a Category 1 storm. It is projected to continue north through Mississippi and Alabama before dissipating over the eastern United States.
Prior to landfall yesterday, President Trump approved an emergency declaration for George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties, with additional designations possible pending further post-storm evaluations. (See below.)
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2017
President Donald J. Trump Approves Mississippi Emergency Declaration
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Nate beginning on October 6, 2017, and continuing.
The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. This action will help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict on the local population, and provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Manny J. Toro as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
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10/8/17
Magnolia Tribune
