Bryant Responds To MEMA Budget Cuts

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LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Governor Phil Bryant responds to WCBI about the worrying of some at the state level that budget cuts will affect severe weather response.

MEMA Director Lee Smithson said recent state budget cuts would force MEMA to rearrange resources if another tornado outbreak were to happen.

Bryant said dealing with the situation would be “challenging”.

“We have resources that would be available in the rainy day fund, for example, if we had to reach into that as I have before. We would find responsibilities in other areas working with treasurer until I could call a special session.

“More than likely when the dust settled from the next storm, a special session would be in order to find the means necessary for MEMA to do their job.”

Bryant said MEMA deals with “life and death situations” and if the time comes where severe weather causes a national disaster area, the state legislature will make sure they receive the funding no matter what.