WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today announced the allocation of $4.35 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to support emergency preparedness efforts throughout the state of Mississippi.

The funding derives from the FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants Program (EMPG).  The funding will be used to assist the state and local governments sustain and enhance all-hazards emergency management capabilities.

“These FEMA resources are intended to help improve emergency preparedness capabilities throughout our state for all types of disasters.  The recent and very severe storms that harmed so many Mississippians emphasize the need for the state and its communities to be as well prepared as possible to protect the public in dangerous times,” said Cochran, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Our state has repeatedly seen the importance of emergency preparedness, most recently during the severe storms that swept across Mississippi communities this spring. This FEMA grant funding will help communities across the state continue to improve their readiness for any future storm or disaster we may face,” said Wicker.

Congress provided $340 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grants Program in the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  EMPG is one of six grant programs originating from the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2007.  This law directed FEMA to work toward a regionalized approach to administering its preparedness grant programs.

This grant funding is separate from the FEMA and other federal resources being made available to Mississippi through presidential disaster declarations related to tornado storms in April and early May.

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