LAMAR — Gov. Tate Reeves requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump for five counties, including Lamar County, for the severe storms that hit the state May 6-7. 

President Trump can declare a major disaster for any natural event he determines has caused damage that is beyond the capability of state and local governments to respond, according to FEMA, and a state governor must certify and make the request. 

The request must also verify appropriate action has been taken under state law, an estimate of the damage to public and private sectors, a description of state and local government efforts, and preliminary estimates of the type and amount of assistance needed. 

Reeves requested individual and public assistance for all five counties and said FEMA-validated numbers show the counties had 88 homes destroyed, 112 homes with major damage and 140 with minor damage. An additional 85 homes were affected. 

In Lamar County, which had an EF-2 tornado touchdown, 82 homes and 13 businesses were damaged, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. 

Individual assistance is for residents in the counties and has the potential to include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs. 

Public assistance supports local governments and nonprofits recovering from major disasters by providing grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and restoration of public infrastructure. 

Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, along with Reps. Bennie Thompson, Trent Kelly, Michael Guest and Mike Ezell, sent a letter to the president endorsing Reeves’ request.