THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

JACKSON -- Federal aid is finally on the way for Mississippi homeowners hit hard by the flooding rains of Hurricane Gustav, and so far more than 970 residents from three counties have applied for individual assistance, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Homeowners in Harrison and Hancock counties on the Mississippi Coast, and Washington County in the Delta, are eligible for up to $28,000 each to rebuild or repair their flood-damaged homes. Residents have 60 days to apply for the grants.

Gov. Haley Barbour's second request for individual assistance to rebuild or repair homes damaged or destroyed by the storm has been approved by FEMA, which had not responded to the governor's first request on Sept. 10.

FEMA had already approved public assistance for several counties, including those along the Gulf Coast, to repair or rebuild public buildings and roadways and to remove hurricane debris.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency prepared a second damage assessment report for individual assistance late last week to give FEMA additional figures, and to add Washington County to the federal disaster declaration for public assistance.

The federal aid comes after U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said it was an "unnecessary bureaucratic delay" by FEMA that stalled Barbour's first request.

"I appreciate FEMA's approval of the additional recovery activities under these programs, and the aggressive support of Senator (Thad) Cochran, Senator Wicker, and the state Congressional delegation," Barbour said in a release.