Congressmen ask Obama for Mississippi disaster declaration for Dec. 23 tornadoes

January 7, 2015 admin News Comments Off

-ae90776e15574b59 — Sandra McDaniel walks through the remains of the product showroom for Jack Morris Gas Company in Columbia, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. The community was hard hit by a tornado on Tuesday that destroyed several businesses and homes and have two deaths attributed directly to it. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Sandra McDaniel walks through the remains of the product showroom for Jack Morris Gas Company in Columbia, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. The community was hard hit by a tornado on Tuesday that destroyed several businesses and homes and have two deaths attributed directly to it. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — The Mississippi congressional delegation is asking President Barack Obama to issue a disaster declaration for areas of the state devastated by Dec. 23 tornadoes.

Gov. Phil Bryant has requested a major federal disaster declaration, including hazard mitigation assistance statewide.

The Mississippi delegation asks the White House in the Jan. 5 letter for speedy approval of the disaster declaration and full consideration of other requests that may come in from last weekend’s storms.

The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker; Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson and Republican Reps. Gregg Harper, Alan Nunnelee and Steven Palazzo.

Five people died from injuries suffered in the Dec. 23 storms. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the tornados.