City waits for president’s approval for federal aid for Moss Point

As for the city and its ongoing rebuild in Moss Point, citizens are still waiting for federal assistance.

Governor Tate Reeves has signed the emergency declaration for the state requesting federal assistance.

Initially, Jackson and Jasper counties, which sustained the most damage at the beginning of the summer from tornados, did not meet the damage threshold required by FEMA to receive federal help.

But after adding 14 other counties, the state was able to meet the threshold and sent the request to FEMA for help.

Mayor Billy Knight says meeting the damage threshold gets Moss Point one step closer to the assistance they so desperately need. “We needed 5.2 million dollars. When the governor was allowed to add in the other counties the 14 counties, including Jasper and Jackson County. Once he added those counties in it went up to $9.2 million dollars. And so that met the threshold and that’s why he made the request to the president to issue a declaration here for those 16 counties. I feel hopeful that the president is going to sign that declaration and our people need to get that individual assistance that they so badly need.”

The city is now waiting for President Joe Biden to approve the request. There is no timetable given to when the president will decide.