Disaster service centers open in Mississippi after Winter Storm Fern

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said on Facebook that disaster service centers for victims of Winter Storm Fern and federal disaster DR-4899 are open from May 26 through June 10 in Alcorn, Benton, Carroll, Coahoma, Lafayette, Leflore, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Tallahatchie, Tishomingo and Yazoo counties.

The centers are available for residents who need to apply for federal assistance or have questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The centers will be closed on Sundays. The application deadline is June 10, the agency said.

MEMA noted that receiving assistance will not affect Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center or a Disaster Survivor Assistance location to apply. Individuals can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or use the FEMA app. Applicants using a relay service should provide FEMA with the number for that service.

The agency said federal funding is available to affected individuals in Adams, Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Yalobusha and Yazoo counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover. We will provide more information as it becomes available.