Federal officials arrive in Rolling Fork after President Biden declares disaster in MS

Hours after President Joe Biden declared a major disaster declaration in response to Friday's deadly tornadoes in Mississippi, local, state, and federal officials stood side-by-side in Rolling Fork to promise that they would do everything they could to support the community and rebuild.

At least 25 have died across the state, with Rolling Fork being the hardest hit.

Gov. Tate Reeves, U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rep. Bennie Thompson, and Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker appeared with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell on Sunday, in front of a backdrop of twisted metal and splintered trees.

"I want to begin by thanking, particularly, our federal delegation for being with us today, the homeland security director and administrator Criswell from FEMA. I want to personally thank President Biden and his team for very quickly signing the emergency declaration that we sent up yesterday. Obviously, the resources that the people here in Rolling Fork and throughout Mississippi need, the help is on the way," Reeves said.

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Reeves said it is important to put aside any political difference in times of crisis.

"It's been my experience, in times like this, that there is no such thing as politics. This doesn't have anything to do with politics. All this has to do with is helping our friends and our neighbors. And what you've seen behind me, and what you've seen over the last 36 hours, is a united front in working with the administration, working with the state officials, working with the local officials," Reeves said.

Criswell said FEMA is determined to provide resources for residents who want to rebuild to have the ability to do so.

Criswell specifically said that those affected by the disaster should work through their insurance companies, but also directly through FEMA. Workers are on the ground going "door to door" to explain federal aid options to those who live in the community and help with applications, she said. Those affected can also receive information on FEMA assistance at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

"President Biden did declare and approve the governor's request for a major-disaster declaration. He did that yesterday," Criswell said. "What this major-disaster declaration does is it ensures that we can bring in the right resources now to help start the recovery process and support any of the ongoing response actions that may be needed in these communities.

"When I spoke to the president and gave him an update yesterday, what I was hearing was, he's very clear to me all the time, make sure that the entire federal family does whatever they can to support these communities, and that's what we're here to do."

Mayorkas assured the people of Mississippi that the federal government will be involved until the mission is done.

"We've come to see it in person, to communicate to the people of Mississippi that we are here, not just today, but for the long haul," Mayorkas said. "The federal government, under President Biden's leadership is here to support Mississippi, to support the governor, to support the senators, Hyde-Smith and Wicker, to support members of congress, to support local officials, Mayor Walker, we are here for the people."

Reeves and Criswell said the state and federal governments are also preparing for more potential severe weather that the state could experience on Sunday evening.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Biden administration officials stand with Gov. Reeves in Rolling Fork