FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Bush Grants Mississippi's Request

Jackson, Miss. – Governor Haley Barbour announced today that President Bush granted Mississippi’s request to add additional counties to the Hurricane Katrina Presidential Disaster Declaration.

“I’m grateful that President Bush is granting our request that will allow us to provide assistance and help to so many Mississippians who are in need,” Governor Barbour said.

The following counties are eligible for both Individual and Public Assistance programs:
Adams, Amite, Attala, Claiborne, Choctaw, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson, and Winston.

The following counties are eligible for Public Assistance only, which will include debris removal and emergency protective measures: Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Washington, Webster and Yalobusha.

Now all 82 counties are included in the declaration for either Individual or Public Assistance programs from FEMA.

The American Red Cross has created the Family Links Hotline, which will aid individuals who are seeking loved ones and family members in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Family Registry can be accessed at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-877-LOVED-1S (568-3317). Concerned friends and family can register their loved ones and view the list of those already posted. Friends and family are encouraged to visit the list daily, because it is updated continuously.

A total of 33 states are providing 2,382 people to aid in the response and recovery efforts of Hurricane Katrina through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Cellular South has established the following call and cell phone-charging centers in their stores and also tent locations:
Stores:
• D’Iberville, 3586 Sangani Blvd., Suite A.
• Ocean Springs, 2424 Vienville Blvd.
• Wiggins, 1111 E. Frontage Road.
• Hattiesburg, 4930 Hardy St.
• Hattiesburg, U.S. 49.
• Columbia, Wal-Mart.
• Lucedale, 223 Winter St., Suite B.
• Laurel, 330 North 16th Ave.
• Magee, 503 Pinola Drive SW U.S. 49.
• Pascagoula, 2512 Denny Ave.
• Waynesboro, Azalea Drive.
Tents that are available beginning today:
• Bay St. Louis, U.S. 90.
• Gulfport, Three Rivers Road/U.S. 49.
• Pass Christian, Pineville Elementary, Menge Ave.

No damage assessments have been received from the Gulf Coast counties. Preliminary damage assessments that are reported from 44 counties include:
• Homes/mobile homes destroyed: 407.
• Homes/mobile homes with major damage: 9,396.
• Homes/mobile homes with minor damage: 13,599.
• Businesses destroyed: 22.
• Businesses with major or minor damage: 677.
• Agricultural buildings destroyed: 241.
• Agricultural buildings with major or minor damage: 1,285.

The most current reports indicate a total of 325,567 meters without power. Reports from power companies are:
• Entergy reported 39,844 meters without service.
• Mississippi Power reported 102,568 meters without service.
• Electrical Power Associations of Mississippi reported 183,155 meters without service.

Commodities to counties:
• 132 truckloads of ice in 34 counties.
• 162 truckloads of water in 35 counties.
• 46 truckloads of tarps in 21 counties.
• 54 truckloads of MREs in 27 counties.

In Mississippi there are 120 American Red Cross shelters open with 15,418 evacuees.

Commissioner of Insurance George Dale announced today that the Mississippi Insurance Department has set up a special out-of-state-only 1-800 number so those residents of Mississippi who have been displaced to other states by Hurricane Katrina may contact the Department with insurance assistance questions. The number is 1-866-856-1982 and will be operational for the next 30 days.

Donations hotlines are established and taking calls on donations, such as calls about cash donations, donated goods and services, volunteers and volunteer groups, as well as vendor inquiries about selling goods and services. Donations numbers are:
• Mississippi Donations Hotline: 1-866-230-8903.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Katrina Donations Hotline: 1-800-440-6728.

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