President Donald J. Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Mississippi following a severe winter storm that struck the state from Jan. 23–27, 2026, making more than $39 million in federal disaster assistance available to support recovery efforts.
According to Federal Emergency Management Agency, the declaration allows federal funding to supplement state, tribal and local response and recovery operations across a wide swath of the state.
Public Assistance funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of storm-damaged facilities in Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster and Yazoo counties, as well as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Eligible assistance includes all Public Assistance categories, including direct federal assistance.
Additional funding for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, has been approved for Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Coahoma, DeSoto, Hinds, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union and Yalobusha counties.
FEMA said Brett H. Howard has been appointed as the federal coordinating officer to oversee recovery operations in the affected areas. Officials noted that additional counties may be added to the declaration if further damage assessments warrant expanded assistance.
State and local leaders continue to assess storm-related damage as recovery efforts move forward across Mississippi.
