Pearl – The State of Mississippi, local officials, hundreds of volunteers, faith-based organizations, and private sector partners continue to respond to the deadly tornadoes that swept through the state on March 24, 2023 (DR-4697-MS).
Key Messages
- Displaced students need to finish the school year where they’re currently being sheltered
- DSNAP deadlines approaching for certain counties
- Connect Mississippi offering transportation services
- Some applicants are receiving FEMA denial letters; applicants should appeal
- Certain houses of worship could be eligible for Public Assistance
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers remain open; will be open Monday, April 24, 2023
- Important deadlines for storm survivors
Displaced Students:
Mississippi students displaced due to storms from March 24, 2023 are eligible under federal law (McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) to immediately enroll in the nearest school district. Parents and guardians DO NOT need to provide birth certficates, vaccination records or other documents. Many displaced families are staying in sheltering provided by the Red Cross. For those families, the nearest school district may be the following:
Canton Public School District (Madison County)
403 E. Lincoln Street
Canton, MS 39046
(601) 859-4110
Clinton Public School District (Hinds County)
P. O. Box 300
Clinton, MS 39060
(601) 924-7533
Greenville Public Schools (Washington County)
412 South Main Street
Greenville, MS 38701
(662) 334-7000
Itawamba County School District
605 S. Cummings Street
Fulton, MS 38843
Phone: (662) 862-2159
Mississippi Achievement School District (Yazoo City and Humphreys County)
P. O. Box 127,1133 Calhoun Avenue
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-2125
Monroe County School District
1619 Hwy 25 North
PO Box 209
Amory, MS 38821
(662) 257-2176
Moss Point School District (Jackson County)
4924 Church Street
Moss Point, MS 39563
(228) 475-4558
Tupelo Public School District (Lee County)
Tupelo, MS 38802-0557
(662) 841-8850
South Delta School District (Sharkey County)
P. O. Box 219Rolling Fork, MS 39159
(662) 873-4302
Sunflower County Consolidated School District
Hwy 49N,196 MLK Drive
Indianola, MS 38751
(662) 887-4919
Vicksburg-Warren School District (Warren County)
1500 Mission 66
Vicksburg, MS 39182
(601) 638-5122
Yazoo County School District
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-4672
Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District
218 Fairground St.
Winona, MS 38967
(662) 283-3731
For more school district locations visit: https://mdek12.org/dd
Disaster SNAP Information: D-SNAP provides eligible households who do not currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. Applicants must be 18 years or older and must apply in the county of residence.
| County | Dates | Time | Location |
| Carroll | 4/18/23 – 4/22/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Vaiden Gym 504 Mulberry Street Vaiden, MS 39176 |
| Humphreys | 4/18/23 – 4/22/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Humphreys Neighborhood Facility Building 505 North Hayden Street Belzoni, MS 39038 |
| Monroe | 4/26/23 – 4/30/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | West Amory Community Center 713 11th Street Amory, MS 38821 |
| Montgomery | 4/17/23 – 4/21/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Winona Community House 113 Sterling Avenue Winona, MS 38967 |
| Panola | 4/26/23 – 4/30/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Extension Building 394 Highway 51 South Batesville, MS 38606 |
| Sharkey | 4/18/23 – 4/22/23 | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | MS Christian Family Services 394 Pine Street Rolling Fork, MS 39159 |
Transportation Services: Connect Mississippi can offer transportation to displaced survivors across the state.
Delta Rides: 877-866-8272
Trans-Con: 601-960-0719
SMART: 601-445-7568
Ride the Smile: 662-728-2118
Southern Connect: 601-682-0701
Houses of Worship Assistance:
Private nonprofit houses of worship (HOW) are eligible for Public Assistance (PA) as facilities that provide a non-critical, essential social service to the general public. HOW and religious nonprofit organizations may be eligible for FEMA’s PA program to cover the cost of emergency protective measures, debris removal, and repairing or replacing facilities damaged during Mississippi’s severe weather on March 24-25, 2023. Applicants can apply using the FEMA Grants Portal.
How to Appeal a FEMA Denial/Determination Letter:
Mississippi survivors of the March storms and tornadoes who applied for assistance from FEMA will receive a letter from FEMA in the mail or via email. The letter will explain your application status and how to respond. It is important to read the letter carefully because it will include the amount of any assistance FEMA may provide and information on the appropriate use of disaster assistance funds.
If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, or the amount of assistance provided, you can submit an appeal letter and documents supporting your claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs.
Appeals must be in writing. In a signed and dated letter, explain the reason(s) for the appeal. It should also include:
- Applicant’s full name
- Disaster number (DR-4697-MS)
- Address of the pre-disaster primary residence
- Applicant’s current phone number and address
- The FEMA application number on all documents
If someone other than an applicant or co-applicant writes the appeal letter, that person must sign it and provide FEMA with a signed statement authorizing the individual to act on behalf of the applicant.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency:
- For anyone in a disaster-declared county (Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, Sharkey) still needing sheltering, call 1-800-RedCross (733-2767).
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers remain open for residents in declared counties to apply for assistance:
- Carroll County: J.Z. George High School, 900 George St. North Carrollton, MS, 38947
- Humphreys County: Humphreys County Library, 105 Hayden Street, Belzoni, MS 39038
- Monroe County: Justice Court Building, 1619 Highway 25, Amory, MS 38821
- Montgomery County: Montgomery County Coliseum, 200 Recreation Dr., Winona, MS 38967
- Panola County: MS State University Extension Center, 245 Eureka St., Suite C, Batesville, MS 38606
- Sharkey County: Heritage Manor, 431 West Race Street, Rolling Fork, MS 39159
Center hours are 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Monday – Saturday; 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Sunday.
Disaster Recovery Centers WILL BE OPEN Monday, April 24, 2023
DEADLINES:
- SNAP Replacement Benefits Deadline: April 24, 2023
- SBA Physical Property Loan: May 25, 2023
- FEMA Application Deadline: May 25, 2023
- IRS Filing Deadline (STORM VICTIMS ONLY): July 31, 2023
- Economic Injury Application:December 26, 2023
(Some dates are subject to change)
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