KEY TAKEAWAYS: Trump approved a major disaster declaration for nine North Louisiana parishes. FEMA funds will cover debris removal, emergency services and temporary housing. Storm left 175,000 without power and 32,500 without running water. Louisiana’s congressional delegation urged federal support for recovery efforts.   President Donald Trump has approved Gov. Jeff Landry’s request for more federal funding to help with recovery from a severe winter storm that hit North Louisiana in late January. The president signed off on a major disaster declaration that will bring more support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to nine parishes: Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas and West Carroll. The money will help pay for debris removal, emergency medical support, temporary generators and other services needed in the aftermath of the disaster. It can also be used to cover the costs of temporary housing and emergency infrastructure repairs. At its peak, the January storm left 175,000 utility customers without power and 32,500 households without running water. Interstate 20 and other highways in North Louisiana had to be closed for days. U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy applauded Trump’s decision Thursday. Cassidy, Kennedy and Louisiana’s six U.S. House members sent a letter to Trump last week urging him to provide more financial support for the storm recovery. Earlier this month, Trump approved similar disaster declarations for Mississippi and Tennessee, which also saw significant damage and power outages during the storm. The president has been reluctant to approve similar funding for other states after natural disasters over the past year. ...read more read less