Mississippi offering housing assistance to tornado victims after Obama denies FEMA help

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)
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 Emergency Management Agency has activated the state’s Temporary Disaster Housing Assistance Program.

Gov. Phil Bryant says in a news release he took action after President Barack Obama denied Mississippi’s request for FEMA assistance to victims of the Dec. 23 tornadoes in Jones and Marion counties.

Bryant says the rental assistance provided by the state program will help put Mississippians into secure housing in the short-term as they recover and rebuild.

The program will provide eligible homeowners up to 90 days of rental assistance reimbursement and eligible renters up to 30 days of assistance.