When the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would reimburse eligible families who lost loved ones to COVID-19, staff at Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison picked up the phone.
For each family that had used their services to honor a coronavirus-related death, they called to say they had documentation ready when the family needed it. We have had a lot of COVID-related deaths, said Shay Chedotal, Natchez Trace Funeral Home president. As far as people that have passed 100% due to COVID? Very few, probably three or four.
Since March 19, 2020, more than 7,000 Mississippians have died as a result of the coronavirus. This month, FEMA will begin disbursing the $2 billion $9,000 per funeral, up from an initial max of $7,000 in funeral reimbursement. Information was not immediately available as to why FEMA increased the aid amount.