With the help of Senator Cochran, Senator Wicker, and Governor Barbour, Mississippi homeowners in Hancock, Harrison, and Washington County are finally eligible to receive grants to rebuild and repair homes that were damaged by flooding from Hurricane Gustav.  Read the Associated Press article below for more details.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:

JACKSON — Federal aid is finally on the way for Mississippi homeowners hit hard by the flooding rains of Hurricane Gustav, and so far more than 970 residents from three counties have applied for individual assistance, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Homeowners in Harrison and Hancock counties on the Mississippi Coast, and Washington County in the Delta, are eligible for up to $28,000 each to rebuild or repair their flood-damaged homes. Residents have 60 days to apply for the grants.

Gov. Haley Barbour’s second request for individual assistance to rebuild or repair homes damaged or destroyed by the storm has been approved by FEMA, which had not responded to the governor’s first request on Sept. 10.

FEMA had already approved public assistance for several counties, including those along the Gulf Coast, to repair or rebuild public buildings and roadways and to remove hurricane debris.

Continue to read the Associated Press article by clicking here.

By J.R. WELSH - jrwelsh@sunherald.com 
 
BAY ST. LOUIS — Federal officials, distressed over poor conditions at Hancock County’s Emergency Operations Center, announced $1 million in new funding Wednesday to help build a replacement facility.

“Last week I had the opportunity to tour Hancock County’s EOC and saw firsthand the difficult conditions county officials have to work in,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker said in a statement issued jointly with U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.

The money is part of $14.6 million being distributed nationally by the Department of Homeland Security for emergency operations centers. During natural disasters the centers serve as headquarters for first responders responsible for evacuations, emergency calls, rescues and distribution of critical public information.

The Sun Herald reported in a front-page story Tuesday on conditions at the Hancock EOC during Hurricane Gustav. About 200 first responders - including police, firefighters, Emergency Management Agency workers, National Guard soldiers, federal and state officials and others - crowded into the decrepit old Valena C. Jones School, where the center and the Bay St. Louis Fire Department are located.

While protecting the citizenry before, during and following the hurricane, they endured conditions including leaky roofs, loose ceiling tiles, rain-slick floors, mold-ridden ceilings and cracked concrete walls.

In announcing the grant, Cochran commended Hancock County officials “for their excellent work despite the condition of their temporary facility.” And Wicker said the money would “go a long way to help Hancock County move their emergency operations center to a safer location that ensures they can continue to respond effectively during the next storm or emergency.”

Click here to continue reading the article.

In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, many Mississippians are wondering, “How can we help?”  Listed below a few different ways in which you can help your fellow Mississippians recover from the effects of Hurricane Gustav.

Main Web site for recovery efforts:

Visit http://www.mississippirelief.com/

Other good places to go:

Mississippi Emergency
Management Agency
1-866-519-MEMA (6362)
www.msema.org

 American Red Cross
1-800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY
www.salvationarmyusa.org

Dear Friends,

Due to the the conditions of Hurricane Gustav, Senator Cochran decided against attending the Republican National Convention in order to stay at home in Mississippi.  Cochran along with Sen. Roger Wicker, Gov. Haley Barbour, and some of the Mississippi Convention delegates thought it was best to be in their home state to aid Mississippians in the wake of the oncoming hurricane.  As the Cochran campaign, we send out our thoughts and prayers to those individuals and families on the Gulf Coast who are affected by the storm. 

However, the Convention is still in progress in Minneapolis/St. Paul, although it has been scaled back due to the turn of focus on Hurricane Gustav.  While Sen. Cochran and some delegates are back in Mississippi, Cochran staff members and alternate delegates are attending the Convention all week in order to take care of the business at hand, nominating Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin as our president and vice president on the Republican ticket.

Throughout the week, we will update you straight from Minneapolis/St. Paul, so check out our blog daily to see what is going on at the Republican National Convention.

Happy Labor Day, and keep all residents and families on the Coast and in our neighboring states in your thoughts and prayers.