MDES Announces Support for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced that Mississippi workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 will be eligible to file for unemployment benefits. MDES has modified its existing unemployment compensation rules to also allow workers to file a claim for unemployment benefits if they are/have been: Quarantined […]


Distribution of Supplies to Healthcare Facilities and County Agencies

PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will begin distributing vital supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to counties across the state, Saturday, March 21, 2020. Twenty-five percent of the current state PPE inventory will be distributed as “push packages” to county points of distribution all across […]


SBA Declares Economic Disaster for Mississippi due to COVID-19

PEARL, Miss. – Governor Tate Reeves’s request for an Economic Disaster Declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration was approved on Friday, March 20, 2020. The entire state of Mississippi has just been declared a disaster for COVID-19 by SBA Administrator Carranza which now opens up disaster loan assistance for small businesses and eligible non-profits […]


Governor Reeves Requests Federal Declaration for Feb. 10-18, 2020 Storms

PEARL, Miss. – Following the severe storms and flooding from the weather events of February 10-18, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves has requested a Federal Declaration for Public Assistance. Joint Public Assistance damage assessments were conducted by FEMA and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance personnel along with local governments beginning on March 9, 2020 in […]


Governor Extends COVID-19 School Closures Until April 17

PEARL, Miss. – Governor Tate Reeves signed an executive order on Thursday, March 19, 2020 to close all Mississippi public schools through April 17, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. The governor stated that he believes the extended closures will give the state more time to evaluate further impacts of COVID-19. Governor Reeves explained this […]


Governor Reeves Requests SBA Economic Disaster Declaration for COVID-19

PEARL, Miss. – Governor Tate Reeves requested a disaster declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This request will provide low-interest, Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). “Mississippians are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to weather this storm […]


Public Service Commission Prohibiting utility shutoffs

PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi Public Service Commission informed MEMA, Sunday, March 15, 2020, an emergency order has been issued prohibiting all water, electric, sewer and natural gas shutoffs for sixty days in response to COVID-19. “This doesn’t alleviate any customer’s responsibility to pay their bills, but prevents service shutoffs during this period,” says Commissioner […]


No Passengers Aboard Cruise Ship on Gulf Coast

PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is aware that a Carnival Cruise Ship has moored at the Port of Gulfport, Sunday, March 15, 2020.  There are no passengers aboard only crew members. However, crews are not allowed to leave the port and can only disembark from the vessel for ship-side maintenance. Another Carnival Cruise […]


Governor Reeves Declares State of Emergency due to COVID-19

PEARL, Miss. – Governor Tate Reeves has signed a State of Emergency in response to the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19.   The State of Emergency covers all counties and municipalities that are affected. A state of emergency is an administrative tool that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in response and recovery […]


The Small Business Administration Provides Assistance in Response to COVID-19

PEARL, Miss. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by […]