WOODVILLE, Miss. – During a tour today of areas in Southwest Mississippi damaged by Hurricane Gustav, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker said he is in full support of Governor Haley Barbour’s request for federal assistance for counties affected by the storm. After touring storm damage on the
Gulf
Coast yesterday, Wicker is meeting today with local officials and touring damaged areas in Adams, Wilkinson, Amite and
Franklin
Counties in order to gather information to assist as he presses the federal government for emergency assistance.
“We are thankful that Hurricane Gustav wasn’t as harmful as Katrina, but the storm still caused a tremendous amount of damage in southern and southwestern
Mississippi ,” Wicker said. “With many communities without power and experiencing flooding, remnants of Gustav are still causing problems here in the southwestern part of the state. It is clear these counties and the others affected by the storm need federal assistance. I will continue working with local officials in support of Governor Barbour’s request to ensure financial assistance is delivered quickly to Mississippians who are obviously in need.”
Yesterday, Governor Barbour requested federal assistance for 16 counties in Mississippi that experienced hurricane force winds, flooding, and power outages due to Gustav: Adams, Amite, Franklin, George, Hancock, Harrison,
Jackson , Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion,
Pearl River , Pike, Stone, Walthall, and Wilkinson.
Also yesterday, President Bush approved federal debris removal assistance in Hancock, Harrison, and
Jackson
Counties . Wicker said that while he is grateful that help was approved, it is clear additional public and individual assistance may be needed for those counties and others affected by Gustav.
“Following a storm that created this much widespread damage, the federal government needs to assist state and local governments. As more becomes known about the full extent of the storm’s damage, I will be prepared to advocate for whatever help is needed from
Washington .”
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