MEMA clarifies generator rules amid January 2026 winter storm

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has received numerous questions about the January 2026 winter storm and directed residents to its website for full guidance, including information on the state’s emergency declaration, ways to help or volunteer and how to report damage. MEMA provided the link: https://www.msema.org/get-assistance/disaster-resources/disasters/january-2026-winter-weather.

MEMA said generators being sent to counties are intended for essential operations only, including hospitals, water treatment facilities and emergency services. The agency said those generators are not available for individual or residential use and that it will not reimburse residents for generators purchased for the storm.

The agency also posted information about winter-weather shelters and safe rooms, traffic updates from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, guidance on creating an emergency kit and video links to Gov. Tate Reeves’ Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 press conferences. MEMA Deputy Director Todd DeMuth provided additional guidance in agency posts, the agency said.

MEMA is the state agency responsible for coordinating disaster response and recovery. Prioritizing generators for critical infrastructure helps keep hospitals and water systems running during outages, the agency said. We will provide more information as it becomes available.