The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has established the 2026 Local Government Disaster Recovery Emergency Loan Program (the Program) to assist eligible local governments impacted by Winter Storm Fern (Number DR-4899-MS). This Program provides temporary emergency loans to help accelerate cash flow for disaster-related expenses while applicants await obligation of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) funding. The Program is administered by MEMA.
All loan funds must be repaid to the State of Mississippi regardless of final FEMA eligibility or obligation determinations.
Funding is limited. Loan awards will be calculated on a pro rata basis using reported and documented disaster damages directly related to Winter Storm Fern. Loans will not exceed 75% of the eligible expenses incurred by the applicant.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online at: https://mema-application.intake.horne.com/
Application Period
- This program is not first-come, first-served
- All eligible applicants included under Winter Storm Fern declarations DR-4899 may apply
- The application period opens April 28, 2026, and closes April 30, 2027. No loan may be issued after July 1, 2027
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be an eligible local government entity under FEMA Public Assistance.
- Eligible borrower means “a county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof, within the bounds of the federally declared disaster area that has applied for assistance through FEMA.”
- Have submitted a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) for DR-4899
- Have at least one active Category A–F project that has reached Phase 4 in FEMA’s Grants Portal
- Have incurred disaster-related costs directly related to Winter Storm Fern with sufficient supporting documentation.
Before you apply, please have ready:
- Entity information, including Name of Entity, Subapplicant (ex: Hospital or Utility District within a municipality or county). UEI, FIPS, MAGIC/vendornumber, and address.
- Primary and secondary authorized representative contact information (Names, Title, Physical Address, Telephone Number & Email). Note that this person or persons must match the authorized representative listed in MY.MSEMA.ORG.
- Requested loan amount.
- FEMA Public Assistance project details, including event, project number, and FEMA Grants Portal Process Step status.
- Information on other funding used, if applicable, including private loans or other legislative appropriations. Supporting documentation will be required to be uploaded (information should include loan amount, lender, date of loan closing, maturation date of loan, repayment information and dates).
- Date of the most recent audit submitted to the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) and type of opinion received.
- Completed and signed IRS Form W-9 for upload.
Please Note: Once an application has been reviewed and approved by the State, additional supporting documentation may be requested as part of the loan disbursement process.
Important Reminder
Participation in this program constitutes agreement by the applicant to repay all loan funds to the State of Mississippi, including any amounts later determined to be ineligible for FEMA reimbursement.
Contact Information
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 5644, Pearl, Mississippi
Phone: 601-933-6379
Frequently Asked Questions
The Local Government Disaster Recovery Emergency Loan Program was created by the Mississippi Legislature during the 2026 legislative session to provide temporary emergency loans to eligible local governments impacted by Winter Storm Fern (DR‑4899‑MS). The loans are intended to help local governments manage cash flow needs while awaiting reimbursement through FEMA Public Assistance (PA).
The program is administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions located within the federally declared disaster area for Winter Storm Fern (DR-4899-MS) that:
- have submitted a FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA)
- have at least one FEMA Public Assistance Category A–F project that has reached Phase 4 in FEMA's Grants Portal
- have documented disaster-related costs tied to Winter Storm Fern
Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to participate.
Adams County, Alcorn County, Attala County, Benton County, Bolivar County, Calhoun County, Carroll County, Claiborne County, Coahoma County, DeSoto County, Grenada County, Hinds County, Holmes County, Humphreys County, Issaquena County, Jefferson County, Lafayette County, Lee County, Leflore County, Marshall County, Montgomery County, Oktibbeha County, Panola County, Pontotoc County, Prentiss County, Sharkey County, Sunflower County, Tallahatchie County, Tate County, Tippah County, Tishomingo County, Tunica County, Union County, Warren County, Washington County, Webster County, Yalobusha County, Yazoo County
No. Political subdivisions (such as utilities, school districts, or other component units) may not apply directly. Applications must be submitted by an eligible county or municipality with legal and financial authority. Political subdivisions should coordinate with their parent local government to be included in the application.
This program provides temporary emergency loans to help local governments maintain cash flow while waiting for FEMA Public Assistance funding to be obligated and received. The program is designed as bridge financing.
Loan funds may be used for documented, incurred disaster-related expenses from Winter Storm Fern associated with FEMA Public Assistance Categories A–F, including:
- debris removal
- emergency protective measures
- public infrastructure repairs
- public facility restoration
- eligible government utility work
All expenses must have already been incurred and supported with documentation.
Loan awards:
- are based on reported and documented disaster-related damages
- are distributed using a pro rata calculation across eligible applicants
- will not exceed 75% of eligible expenses incurred
Because statewide funding is limited, final loan amounts may be adjusted to ensure equitable distribution.
No. The program is not first-come, first-served. All eligible applicants may apply during the open application period.
Yes. Applicants must:
- submit a FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA); and
- have at least one FEMA Public Assistance Category A–F project that has reached Phase 4 in FEMA’s Grants Portal
before they are eligible to receive a loan.
This program provides loans that must be repaid to the State of Mississippi, even if FEMA later determines that some expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.
FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement related to the funded project will be applied directly toward repayment of the loan. Reimbursements will not be paid directly to the bowwer. Any remaining balance must be fully repaid according to the loan agreement.
The loan is intended to be repaid once FEMA Public Assistance funding is obligated and received. Participation in the program constitutes agreement that all loan funds must be repaid, regardless of FEMA's final eligibility determinations, including appeals or arbitration.
Interest is only charged if FEMA reimbursement does not fully repay the loan. Any remaining balance will accrue interest at an annual rate of 3 percent. All remaining balances must be fully repaid within two years of FEMA’s final determination.
The applicant remains responsible for repaying those amounts using local funds or another pledged repayment source identified in the loan agreement.
Yes. Loan funds may be used to repay short‑term borrowing obtained specifically to cover eligible expenses related to Winter Storm Fern (DR‑4899‑MS) while awaiting FEMA reimbursement. However, Loan funds cannot be used to refinance loans from prior disasters or for expenses unrelated to Winter Storm Fern.
Applicants should be prepared to submit:
- FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA) confirmation
- documentation demonstrating at least one Category A–F project in Phase 4
- records documenting incurred disaster‑related costs
- supporting documentation such as invoices, contracts, payroll records, or force account labor and equipment records
Providing complete documentation early will help expedite review and award determination.
No. Applicants are required to provide the date of their most recent audit and the audit opinion. A full audit report is not required at the application stage but may be requested later for loan disbursement or monitoring purposes.
- Applications open April 28, 2026
- Applications close April 30, 2027
- No loan will be issued after July 1, 2027
Applications must be submitted online at: https://mema-application.intake.horne.com/
MEMA staff are available to assist applicants throughout the process. If your community has questions about eligibility, documentation requirements, FEMA project status, or how to complete the application, please contact:
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
601-933-6379
DisasterRecoveryLoan@mema.ms.gov