Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the dates for the 164th Mississippi State Fair. The upcoming 2023 State Fair will be held Thursday, October 5, through Sunday, October 15, at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. “We’re excited to announce the dates for this year’s annual Mississippi State Fair,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Fairgoers can expect all their favorite rides, events, livestock shows, concerts and foods to be on display across the 105-acre grounds. Our staff is working tirelessly to ensure we have another safe and successful fair, with even more family-friendly attractions and nationally recognized artists.” “We have been working very hard on the 164th State Fair,” said Michael Lasseter, director of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. “We have new attractions and great entertainment, which we will be announcing soon. So mark your calendars for this annual, fun filled event coming in October!” Additional details regarding concerts and special attractions will be forthcoming soon. Follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

By Bob Garver Back in 1989, the animated version of “The Little Mermaid” ushered in what came to be known as the “Disney Renaissance,” an era of creative and commercial prosperity where the company reclaimed its position as the king of animated family entertainment. Now in 2023, the company is looking to a live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” to put it back on top of that mountain, minus the animation. Sure, the MCU is doing well, but the studio hasn’t really been connecting with younger audiences lately, at least not at the box office. The pandemic forced “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” to go directly to streaming, “Raya and the Last Dragon” opened too soon after theaters reopened to be a blockbuster, “Encanto” didn’t perform as well as its legacy would suggest, and “Strange World” simply did not find an audience. The best performer since 2019 was last year’s critical flop “Lightyear” with $118 million domestic, a number “The Little Mermaid” is projected to nearly match or even beat by the end of the four-day Memorial Day weekend. The story, as before, is that mermaid princess Ariel (Halle Bailey) wants to leave underwater life behind and live on the surface with humans, especially the hunky Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). Her father, King Triton (Javier Bardem), forbids her from so much as visiting the surface, and enlists his crab servant Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) to keep an eye on her. A falling-out between father and daughter sends Ariel right into the tentacles of opportunistic sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), who offers Ariel a chance to be human for three days. If she can get a true-love’s kiss from Eric in that time without using her voice, she can stay human forever. If she fails, she becomes Ursula’s slave. She sets out on the adventure of a lifetime on land, aided by Sebastian and her friends, fish Flounder (Jacob Trembley) and stork Scuttle (Awkwafina). Can she get the kiss despite Ursula’s scheming? The good news is that the musical numbers fans love are well-translated here with excellent vocals from Bailey and Diggs and some gorgeous choreography. I was mimicking bits of “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” “Kiss the Girl,” and Ariel’s non-lyrical siren song for days after I saw this movie, much to the annoyance of people around me. Also, the cinematography is beautiful with luscious blues and greens (sadly not red though, I miss Ariel’s vibrant red hair) and Bailey and Hauer-King have delightful chemistry as they fall in love. The bad news is that the film goes for some additions that don’t work. The new songs range from well-meaning-but-unmemorable (Eric’s “Wild Uncharted Waters”) to downright painful (Scuttle’s “The Scuttlebutt,” which may mark the single lowest point in composer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s career). Eric is given a parallel storyline similar to Ariel’s, which does add some much-needed depth to his character, but also results in some eye-rolling redundancy. The CGI-heavy climax pales in comparison to the genuinely tense animated version. And I really hate to say it, because her singing and mute scenes are terrific, but Bailey is often wooden when speaking her lines. It all balances out to a pretty good movie, perhaps the best of Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated classics. The kids at my screening loved it, though I may have just been hearing particularly high-pitched adults. The animated version is still superior, but this new “Little Mermaid” is a decent successor and a great way to introduce the iconic story and characters to a new generation. Grade: B- “The Little Mermaid” is rated PG for action/peril and some scary images. Its running time is 135 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Wesson Friends of the Library (FOL) led the local celebration of National Library Week (April 23-29) last month with a storytime event for children in kindergarten through the third grade. In line with the goal of the celebration to encourage a broad spectrum of the community to discover library resources, the event on April 27 not only brought kids to Wesson Public Library at 1012 Spring Street, but parents and even older siblings to help the youngsters who needed support to get there at a tender age. While the kids listened attentively to stories that were read to them by FOL volunteers from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the adults and older children and youth had an opportunity to learn that library services go way beyond checking out and returning books – the purpose of the national celebration framed thematically by “There’s More to the Story.” In explaining the focus of National Library Week, the American Library Association pointed out: “Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there's so much more to the story. Libraries of Things lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Library infrastructure advances communities, providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs.” Wesson Public Library provides internet access, lends videos and DVDs, and brings the community together through its Summer Reading Program, arts and craft exhibits, and many educational activities for both children and adults. The library also supports organizations and businesses in the community. The first National Library Week celebration was proclaimed by President Eisenhower in 1958. He wrote: “Let National Library Week be a time for the appraisal of community needs for library services and of the means for meeting them, for encouraging the development of a better-read, better-informed citizenry, and for rededication to that fine public service that has always been characteristic of the libraries of America.” The celebration honors the contributions of general and specialized libraries, public and private alike and the personnel who staff them.

Grayson Cole Coates, a Wesson High School senior, is among sixteen Mississippi high school seniors who have been selected as Lindy Callahan Scholar-Athletes for the Class of 2023. The honorees — one boy and one girl from each of the Mississippi High School Athletic Association’s (MHSSA) eight geographical districts — were chosen for their academic accomplishments as well as their participation in high school athletics and extracurricular activities. Wesson High School is in District VIII. The recipients were chosen by a committee made up of MHSAA partners and school administrators. Each of the 16 honorees will receive a $1,500 college scholarship through the support of MHSAA partners. The Scholar-Athlete awards were launched in 1996 to honor Mr. Lindy Callahan, a long-time athletic director and coach at Gulfport High School and an eight-time Hall of Fame inductee. In addition Coates, this year’s honorees were: District I. Elijah Zane Chapman, New Albany High School, and Caitlyn Paige King, New Site High School District II. Everett Kent Johnson, East Union Attendance Center, and Lindsey Elizabeth Dillard, Ingomar Attendance Center District III. Kameron K. Jenkins, Leland High School, and Zoreya Beckworth, Amanda Elzy High School District IV. Elijah Zaccheus, Neshoba Central High School, and Laney Dianne Boatner, Noxapater Attendance Center District V. Mitchell Lloyd Butler, Northeast Lauderdale High School. And Brooke Nicole Gibson, Clarkdale High School District VI. Joseph Reece Welch, Puckett High School, and Kaitlyn J. Walker, Clinton High School District VII. Coates and Natalie Grace Deer, North Pike High School District VIII. Braylon Lavon Coleman, Gautier High School, and Stevie Elizabeth Cooksey, Bay High School

By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr There are chicken dinners. . . .and then there are chicken dinners. Cornish Hens transform the ordinary chicken dinner into something special. They are little barred rock chickens, hard-working member of the backyard chicken flock, beautiful, calm, and productive, one of Americas’ first and finest poultry creations, a worldwide success for thousands of poultry breeders, enthusiasts, and backyard ‘keepers for well over 100 years. Cooked properly, Cornish Hens will make for a more tender and juicier culinary experience, more elegant than the chicken dinner you ordinarily serve. And more good news: you’ll probably find them slightly less expensive at your neighborhood grocery store. Ingredients: One Cornish Hen for each person served. (my favorites is Tyson’s). Weber Dry Rub Louisiana Cajun Seasoning (or your favorite all purpose seasoning) Raw honey from local bee keepers Salt-red pepper brine to marinate Cornish Hens overnight (optional) Directions: 1. With a meat shear, cut each Cornish Hen in half and remove excess fat and skin and the tip wing. 2. Apply your favorite all purpose seasoning (I like Louisiana Cajun Seasoning) and a healthy layer of Weber Dry Rub to each Cornish hen half. 3. Prepare a grill at medium to high heat level. 4. Sear both sides of each Cornish Hen half. 5. Reduce grill heat to low to medium. 6. Cook each Cornish Hen half 40 to 45 minutes, or until done. 7. At about 10 minutes before taking chicken off the grill, liberally baste both sides of each Cornish Hen half with raw honey. After the initial preparation of the Cornish Hen halves and before seasoning them, some cooks like to marinate them for extra flavor and tenderness: 1. In large pot, prepare a brine with a gallon of water, ½ cup of salt and a tablespoon of red pepper. 2. Place Corish Hen halves in brine, making sure it covers them. 3. Refrigerate overnight to marinate. When temperature of brine and Cornish Hen halves equalize, the hens absorb the sale and pepper mix. 4. After marinating, remove the hen halves, and season and grill as described. EDITOR’S NOTE: Charles Fortson, Jr., is proprietor-chef at Uncle Ray’s across from Lake Lincoln State Park. He makes lunches and dinners to take out or for table service, while also operating a convenience store and bait shop at his Sunset Road location. Follow his cooking tips on Uncle Ray’s Facebook page or call 601-643-0174 to check on his daily specials.

Co-Lin’s Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Dewayne Middleton as the college’s ninth president. Dr. Middleton. The current Executive Vice President of the college will move into his new role July 1 with the retirement of Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “I feel extremely honored and grateful to have been selected by the board of trustees to lead this incredible institution as president,” Dr. Middleton said. “Co-Lin has been part of my life for nearly 30 years, first as a student-athlete and then the place where I was fortunate to build my career. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to strengthen our institution as we work to offer the highest quality education to our students and communities.” Dr. Middleton’s extensive background in higher education includes student services, classroom instruction, federal programs, academics, athletics, and administration. He has served in his current role as Executive Vice President of the college since 2021 in which he oversees all campus vice presidents and all campus operations. Prior to his current post, he served as Vice President of Co-Lin’s Simpson County Center for seven years. In previous positions at Co-Lin, Dr. Middleton was Dean of Student Services at the Simpson County Center, an academic advisor/instructor, the Upward Bound coordinator, and assistant men’s and women’s basketball coach. In addition to his experience at Co-Lin, Dr. Middleton also served as an adjunct graduate professor at Alcorn State University. Dr. Middleon holds an associate degree from Co-Lin, where he was a student-athlete for the Wolf Pack Men’s Basketball team, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in coaching and sports administration, a master’s degree from Alcorn State University in secondary education, and a doctorate from Mississippi State University in community college leadership. During his professional career, Dr. Middleton has received numerous awards, certificates, and appointments. In addition to being named Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, he has received Co-Lin’s High Performance and Outstanding Co-Lin Faculty/Staff Member awards and the NISOD Excellence Award. He was also named an Emerging Leader of Mississippi. He has completed the Mississippi State University Education Policy Fellowship Program, Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and Mississippi Development Authority Aspire Program. Dr. Middleton serves on the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACSCOC) Substantive Change Committee Review Team, the SACSCOC On-Site Committee Review Team, and the Mississippi Community College Board Review Team for OCR & ADA Compliance. He is a member of the Mississippi ACT Council, Southeastern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Academic Officers, Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Student Affairs Association, Mississippi Scholars Steering Committee, Simpson County Leadership, Omega Psi Pi Fraternity Incorporated, and Simpson County Tourism Council. He is also very active in his community, serving on the Five County Head Start Board of Directors, Magee Hospital HealthTrust Board of Directors, Peoples Bank CDFI Advisory Board, Simpson County Economic Development Board of Directors, Southern Pine Electric Power Advisory Board and Simpson General Hospital Board of Directors. He is a volunteer coach for city baseball, football, and upward basketball. He is married to Sirkersia (Tan) Middleton and they have two daughters, Mikaylin and Soumya, and a son, Kendal. They attend St. John Church of God in Christ.

Governor Reeves declared April 30 – May 6, 2023, Hurricane Preparedness Week for the State of Mississippi. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges citizens to prepare for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Last year, there were 14 named storms, eight of which formed into hurricanes, two of which became major hurricanes. Mississippi continues to recover from Hurricane Ida, which hit in 2021, resulting in more than $30 million in damage. "Over the last few years, our state has confronted hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and more," said Governor Tate Reeves. "It is critical to have a plan before severe weather strikes. It can make the difference in keeping you and your family safe. I hope Hurricane Preparedness Week can help raise awareness about the upcoming hurricane season and encourage Mississippians to take the necessary steps to prepare." "Don't wait for a tropical storm or hurricane to get in the Gulf of Mexico to prepare. Protect your families now by getting ready," says MEMA's Executive Director Stephen McCraney. "While the State is prepared to respond to a hurricane, the First 72 Hours Are On You. That means you need at least 72 hours worth of food and water for each family member. Take time today to prepare yourself and your family for a storm." Every Mississippi family should have a fully stocked disaster supply kit with necessities like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, etc. To download a copy of the disaster supply checklist, click here. MEMA encourages homeowners to do an insurance check before hurricane season; homeowners should also purchase flood insurance if a home is in a special flood hazard zone. MEMA will highlight key messages, facts, and ways to be prepared on our social media outlets each day of Hurricane Preparedness Week. Here are the key topics for each day: • April 30, 2023 - Know Your Risk: Wind & Water • May 1, 2023 - Prepare Before Hurricane Season • May 2, 2023 - Understand Forecast Information • May 3, 2023 - Get Moving When a Storm Threatens • May 4, 2023 - Stay Protected During Storms • May 5, 2023 - Use Caution After Storms • May 6, 2023 - Take Action Today The official Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1, 2023- November 30, 2023. Each day of the week, MEMA will share special messaging on our Facebook and Twitter. Mississippians can also view our MEMA Disaster Guide here. MEMA's Disaster Guide in Spanish is here. MEMA's Disaster Guide in Vietnamese is here.

Wesson Garden Club is celebrating spring, receiving awards for its activities, recognizing those who are helping the town burst out in spring colors and producing a spring flower show. WGC members Jennifer Peets, Lisa Smith and Dixie Thornton represented the club last month (March 8-10) at the Deep South Garden Club at the Convention at Kenner, Louisiana, returning with first place awards in two categories: Adopt a Park and Roadside Beautification (shared with the Chautauqua Garden Club of Crystal Springs). In addition to celebrating its own recognition, the club spotlighted two local organizations and a deceased local gardener in its Springtime in Wesson program for plantings that are helping sustain the spring season in town: Trustmark Bank’s yellow pansies; The late Lucille Horton’s azaleas; Sylvarena Baptist Church’s Bradford pears. WGC made its own contribution to the town’s spring season as well with a flower show at the Old School Community Center last week (April 4 from 2 p.m.-6 p.m.). The Club’s youth Butterbean group competed among themselves in a show within the flower show. In March, Donna Smith and Tina Brumfield from the McComb Garden Club, both considered experts in flower show planning and design, helped prepare WGC members for the show, explaining the art of a flower show and how to create floral and horticulture designs. Members left the presentation with tips and new knowledge on creating a design that could be blue ribbon winner. Marilyn Britt, Rebecca Norma Carroll, Sherri Carty, Sonya Cowen, Ramona Hartzog, Cherry Head, Rhonda Ishee, Denise Jackson, Camille Johnston, Vickie Martin, Pam McLemore, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Joy Phillips, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, Lisa Smith and Dixie Thornton were on hand at the March 13 meeting at American Legion Post 79. Providing refreshments were hostesses Paige Anderson, Robin Furr, Ramona Hartzog and Rhonda Ishee. The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., Natchez Trace District-Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

It's that time of year when increased rain chances also means increased flood risk. Mississippians should consider flood insurance now, before they need it. "At last check, there were about 57,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies in force in Mississippi," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. "Most Mississippians with NFIP coverage pay about $784 each year." Over one million properties in the state are not covered by any type of flood insurance. It typically takes 30 days for a flood policy to go into effect and homeowner's policies do not cover flooding. Tips to prepare for flooding now: Sign up for your community warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. Learn and practice evacuation routes and shelter plans. Gather supplies you might need if you have to leave home quickly. Keep in mind, you may need medication, pet food and crates, and extra batteries and chargers for mobile phones. Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Make digital copies of those documents to upload and protect them with a password. After a flood Listen to authorities for information and return home only when authorities say it's safe. Avoid driving, except in emergencies. Snakes and other animals may have come into your home or business during the flood. Wear gloves and boots during cleanup. Don't touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you're in standing water. If it's safe, turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock. Avoid wading in floodwater as it could be contaminated. Only use a generator outdoors and away from windows. File a flood insurance claim as soon as possible. o Call 1‐800‐621‐3362 for further assistance or Register for FEMA Flood Disaster Assistance.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is entering into an agreement with the American Red Cross to assist in temporarily lodging displaced residents from the March 24, 2023, deadly tornadoes. Under this agreement, the American Red Cross will place eligible disaster survivors into hotel or motel rooms, and provide meals for those individuals and families for up to six months based on need. “Helping the impacted communities get back on their feet is our top priority,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “This contract with the Red Cross is going to be really important in getting Mississippians the resources they need to recover. We’ll continue to use every available resource to restore and rebuild our communities. We’re committed to being here for as long as it takes.” We aim to give families safe and comfortable lodging while helping them work towards permanent housing solutions. To further help disaster survivors, Red Cross and FEMA case managers will address the needs of each eligible citizen and support their recovery progress. Currently, over 500 Mississippians are residing in local hotels due to the tornadoes; we anticipate little to no disruption to those currently in hotel or motel rooms during this transition phase. To qualify for this program, survivors must register first with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Displaced storm survivors who need temporary lodging under this program should call: 1-800-RedCross. MEMA and Red Cross have partnered with a number of local hotels in the affected counties, Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, and Sharkey, or nearby counties that could accommodate. During this sheltering mission, hotel availability may change. The Red Cross may relocate residents to another facility if necessary. The contract is worth up to $11.6 million and is eligible for FEMA reimbursement. MEMA will request 100% reimbursement from FEMA. However, if 100% is not approved, FEMA will provide 75% reimbursement for eligible costs and the state match of 25% will come from the “housing mission fund” the Mississippi State Legislature appropriated to MEMA for FEMA-DR-4697. While in the Red Cross-provided hotels/motels, it is essential to note that “FEMA temporary rental assistance” could be paused since the state is paying for sheltering. At this time, the State is not releasing the address of these shelters due to the safety and security of those displaced storm survivors. Anyone needing shelter can call 1-800-RedCross. IMPORTANT NOTE: Interview availability with MEMA’s Executive Director is from 1 pm-2 pm on April 11, 2023. Contact Allie Jasper at ajasper@mema.ms.gov to schedule your interview with the director.

Recent weather events have safety on the mind of most Mississippians these days, but Atmos Energy focuses on safety all year-round. Did you know that the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks is digging or construction that disturbs natural gas pipelines? Pipelines carry natural gas around the clock to more than 76 million homes and businesses in the United States, yet we seldom notice these energy superhighways because they are underground. Every year in April, National Safe Digging Month is an opportunity to remind homeowners, contractors, and any professional excavator to keep communities safe by calling 811 before any digging project. “Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines,” said Todd Fuller, Manager of Safety for Atmos Energy in Mississippi. “It is simple and easy to make a free request online or over the phone by calling 811 before digging to help communities maintain essential utility services, promote safety, and reduce the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines. The ‘Call 811’ service is free, safe, and it is required by law.” “Mississippi 811 promotes National Safe Digging Month to raise awareness of the importance of calling before you dig to avoid damages to underground utilities and to promote safety for excavators,” said Fred Johnson, President Mississippi 811, Inc. Atmos Energy is partnering with Mississippi 811 and other gas utilities in the metro area to raise awareness of 811 and National Safe Digging Month. We are co-sponsoring a blood drive at the location of MS 811, 200 Country Pl Pkwy in Pearl. “In conjunction with National Safe Digging Month, Mississippi 811, Inc. is teaming up with local utility members and Mississippi Blood Services to promote saving lives,” said Bert Pickard with MS 811. “We invite you to come out and donate blood at this life saving event.” The event will run from 12:00pm to 5:00pm at the MS 811 office. Volunteers who donate blood at the event will receive $15 Visa gift cards. Door prizes will be given away as well. Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local notification center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Homeowners are further encouraged to take a few precautionary measures when planning any digging project this spring: Plan ahead. If work is scheduled for an upcoming weekend, make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday – providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. Confirm that all lines have been marked. Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. Please visit 811beforeyoudig.com for complete information. As part of National Safe Digging Month, Atmos Energy asks everyone to become a safety ambassador by taking the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge at https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/sign-call-811-pledge. In addition, the Atmos Energy Damage Prevention Ambassador Program empowers employees year-round to help eliminate pipeline damages by making stops at excavation sites to educate the public and promote safe digging practices. In 29 percent of all stops, Damage Prevention Ambassadors found that excavators did not have a valid 811 ticket, the ticket had expired, or their excavation plan included the use of mechanized equipment within the utility tolerance zone without first exposing the utilities. If pipeline danger exists, the Ambassador is empowered to stop the work, and the excavator is asked to cease digging and call 811 so utilities can mark their lines as required under state law. With an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development, pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks. Atmos Energy has been and will continue to be a champion for damage prevention, and this is yet one more way that Atmos Energy puts its safety vision into practice. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find us online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

While we understand the federally-declared storm damage disaster is outside our local coverage area, we wanted to share this information with our readers. Many of you are helping family and friends work through this devastating process, and, for those who aren't, this is still good information to be aware of. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who have suffered damage and loss during these past few days of storms. If you live in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe or Sharkey counties and were affected by the March 24-25 tornadoes, FEMA may be able to help with temporary lodging expenses, basic home repairs or other essential disaster-related needs that are not covered by insurance. There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for smartphones or call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. FEMA will ask for: A current phone number where you can be contacted. Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying. Your Social Security Number. A general list of damage and losses. Banking information if you choose direct deposit. If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name. If you have homeowner or renter insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will be in communities soon to help survivors apply for assistance. Home inspections If you report that you cannot, or may not be able to, safely live in your home, FEMA may need to perform an inspection of the damaged dwelling. The inspection may be conducted at the site of the damaged dwelling or remotely. FEMA will contact you to let you know how the inspection will take place. For remote inspections, FEMA inspectors will contact applicants to answer questions about the type and extent of damage sustained. Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection. However, they may request an inspection if they later find significant disaster-caused damage. Remote inspections have no impact on the types of Other Needs Assistance available that do not require an inspection. These include childcare, transportation, medical and dental, funeral expenses, moving and storage, and others. For an accessible video on FEMA home inspections, go to youtube.com/watch?v=kXMaDkY3Q2o.