TUPELO, Miss. — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined Gov. Tate Reeves on Feb. 2 in Tupelo to recognize Mississippi’s first responders and emergency officials for their efforts during a recent winter storm that impacted the state.
Noem and Reeves met with representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi National Guard and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, among others, to commend their coordination during the multi-agency response.
The Department of Homeland Security began working with Mississippi officials several days before the storm made landfall, coordinating preparations aimed at accelerating recovery efforts once conditions improved. After a federal emergency disaster declaration was issued Jan. 24, DHS deployed personnel to the state emergency operations center to assist with response coordination.
According to federal officials, early planning efforts helped expedite the delivery of emergency resources, support restoration of critical services and provide assistance to the hardest-hit communities.
“Thank you to our first responders, emergency managers, and support personnel for protecting American lives during extreme winter conditions,” Noem said during the visit. She added that DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency would continue working with state and local leaders to ensure federal support aligns with Mississippi’s response efforts.
Reeves has previously said the state’s preparation and interagency coordination were key to minimizing disruptions and protecting residents during the storm.
State and federal officials said collaboration among local, state and federal agencies would continue as recovery efforts move forward.
