President Joe Biden and the first lady will head to tornado-ravaged Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Friday to huddle with locals and first responders.
The Bidens plan to "survey recovery efforts and reaffirm their commitment to supporting the people of Mississippi as long as it takes," the White House announced Wednesday. A string of tornadoes and severe weather wreaked havoc on the Magnolia State from March 24 to 25, killing at least 26 and wounding dozens.
BIDEN APPROVES DISASTER DECLARATION FOR MISSISSIPPI STORM THAT KILLED AT LEAST 26
A tornado began near Rolling Fork and stretched roughly 30 miles to Silver City, according to weather reports. At least one of the reported deaths took place in Alabama.
In the wake of the storm, Biden issued a disaster declaration early Sunday, ensuring federal funds will be available to Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, and Sharkey counties. Disaster money will come down in the form of both loans and grants.
"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said at the time in a statement.
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Rolling Fork is a small town of about 2,000 that saw much of its infrastructure and building reduced to rubble by the powerful storm.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas traveled to the state Sunday.