Reeves asking for Federal Emergency Declaration

Gov. Tate Reeves has requested an Emergency Measures Declaration from President Biden for the City of Jackson Water Crisis. If declared, any eligible expenses paid for by the state could be eligible for federal reimbursement.

Under the requested Emergency Declaration, FEMA would be authorized to provide emergency measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding.

This request is because the City of Jackson’s O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant stopped producing water for almost 180,000 dependent citizens. Both primary pumps are broken and are currently being serviced. The plant is not producing adequate water pressure, and some residents are experiencing outages.

The water treatment plant provides water to the City of Jackson, City of Byram, two major hospitals, multiple dialysis clinics, long-term care facilities, Jackson Public School District, numerous restaurants, and daycares.

Late Tuesday night, Reeves tweeted that the request to FEMA had been approved.

Our federal disaster declaration for Jackson water has been approved.

Grateful to @FEMA_Deanne for our long conversation about the crisis this evening, for she and Gracia and @femaregion4 team for their swift work, and the White House for ultimately granting the request.

— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) August 31, 2022