President Biden declared an emergency to aid recovery and clean-up efforts in Mississippi after a storm left at least 25 people dead over the weekend, making federal funds available for a number of counties that were ravaged in the state.
Multiple tornadoes ripped through Mississippi on Friday, with state officials confirming at least 25 people killed with dozens more injured. One man also died in Alabama.
One of the more devastating tornadoes struck 60 miles northeast of Jackson and traveled across the state, moving northeast toward Alabama. A map produced by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency tracked the tornado’s path, saying it had received a preliminary EF-4 rating, the second-highest score on the National Weather Service’s tornado severity index. That means the tornado had winds between 166 and 200 miles per hour, according to the service.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said on Saturday that he had submitted the state’s claim for a major disaster declaration to the federal government, saying “the scale of the damage and loss is evident everywhere.” Biden spoke with Reeves, as well as with the Mississippi congressional delegation, saying he offered “full federal support.”
We have submitted our major disaster declaration. The scale of the damage and loss is evident everywhere affected today. Homes, businesses…entire communities. Respond, Recover, Rebuild together. That is the mission.
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 25, 2023
Jill and I are praying for those who have lost loved ones in the devastating tornadoes in Mississippi and those whose loved ones are missing.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 25, 2023
I spoke with @tatereeves, @SenatorWicker, @SenHydeSmith, and @BennieGThompson to express my condolences and offer full federal support.
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