Biden announced Friday that the federal government will cover the full cost of Mississippi’s emergency measures for 30 days after deadly storms ripped through the state.
“Today I authorize the federal government to cover 100% of the cost for removing debris and emergency measures that are involved in keeping up here,” Biden said, standing amid the damage in the down of Rolling Fork, which was torn apart by a deadly tornado last Friday.
Biden said the federal government would pay for 100% of the cost for 30 days, “and then after that we are not leaving, either.”
The President and First Lady Jill Biden toured Rolling Fork in the Mississippi Delta this Friday, where, along with the nearby town of Silver City, roughly 300 homes were destroyed and at least 21 people were killed. One person died in the storms in neighboring Alabama, as well.
The tornado was reportedly an EF4, based on the National Weather Service’s scale of 0-to-5 in intensity. The United States averages 1,150 to 1,200 tornadoes per year, with EF4s making up just about 1% of the total.
Biden told those gathered Friday that already some 300 federal personnel were on the ground, including FEMA’s disaster survivor assistance teams. Further, he said, the Department of Agriculture was reimbursing farmers for livestock and lost crops. Additionally the Small Business Association was on site to help with low interest loans for those who need to rebuild.
And noting that many Americans get their prescription meds via the U.S. Postal Service, he said a temporary post office was being set up on top of the site of the damaged one.
Already some 1,700 people had signed up for assistance at disasterassistance.gov, according to Biden, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
Biden closed by saying, “We’re not just here for today. I’m determined that we’re going to leave nothing behind. We’re going to get it done for you.”
