[12/10/03]Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott announced Tuesday $43,614 in federal cash will be divided among residents in Claiborne, Sharkey and Warren counties.

The funding was part of $1.5 million approved for Mississippi from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The funds will be used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary financial needs, a Cochran aide said. The funds will go toward food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs.

“I am pleased that FEMA has provided federal funding to supplement ongoing efforts,” Cochran said.

Another aide said the funds will go to emergency management officials for distribution.

Each county must meet specific requirements based on county size, unemployment rates and poverty rates.

Counties not receiving funding can be covered in money set aside for the entire state. Mississippi has $26,483 in general funds for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.