Temporary Housing on Your Own Property in Mississippi

When a tornado, a hurricane, or a flood leaves your Mississippi home unlivable, your homeowners policy may pay for somewhere to stay while it is repaired. For many families, the best place is still home: a furnished travel trailer set up on your own lot, close to school, work, your pets, and the crew rebuilding the house. 1st Choice Living has provided on-site temporary housing nationwide since 2004, and this page explains how it works in Mississippi.

What Mississippi homeowners are recovering from

On March 14 and 15, 2025, a severe weather outbreak crossed Mississippi. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reports that the National Weather Service confirmed 18 tornadoes in the state over those two days, including one EF-4 and one EF-3, and that county assessments recorded damage to 941 homes, 38 businesses, and 25 farms.

The EF-3 touched down just southwest of Tylertown and tracked through Darbun into Marion County. The National Weather Service office in New Orleans estimated peak winds of 140 mph along a 17.2-mile path, and its survey found many destroyed single and double wide manufactured homes along the entire track. Damage like that can keep a family out of the house for months while it is cleared, permitted, and rebuilt.

Tornadoes are only part of the picture. The Mississippi Insurance Department’s weather and disaster guide also prepares homeowners for hurricanes, lightning and thunderstorms, hail and ice storms, and flooding.

How the Mississippi Insurance Department explains additional living expenses

The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) explains that additional living expenses coverage will pay for you to move into a motel or apartment temporarily, and will cover certain other additional living expenses, when you cannot live in your home because of damage that is covered by your policy. Key points from MID:

• It pays the increase. MID’s disaster guide says ALE covers hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other expenses over and above your customary living expenses while your home is being rebuilt.
• Tornado damage counts. MID says standard homeowners and renters policies provide ALE when your home is destroyed or made unlivable because of a tornado.
• Ask early. In its storm claim tips, MID advises that if your home is damaged to the extent that you can’t live there, you ask your insurance company whether you have coverage for additional living expenses, and that you make sure your insurance representative knows how to reach you if you are not staying on the property.
• Save every receipt. MID says to save all receipts, including those from temporary repairs your policy covers.
• Flood is separate. MID explains that standard homeowners insurance does not cover damage due to floods. Federal flood insurance is sold through the National Flood Insurance Program.

This is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered.

How a trailer on your lot works with your ALE

1st Choice Living bills your carrier directly under ALE, so on a covered claim you pay $0 out of pocket and there are no lodging receipts for you to submit. We track your placement against your ALE limit, so you and your adjuster can see where things stand while the rebuild moves forward. You have one named contact from the first call to pickup.

Our furnished travel trailers sleep 2 to 10. We deliver, level, and set up the unit on your property, whether that is a city lot or acreage. Utilities are connected by licensed, insured contractors. We document site conditions at setup and takedown, so everyone has a clear record.

Local rules in Mississippi are set by your city or county

We did not find a statewide Mississippi rule on living in a travel trailer on your own lot while you rebuild. It is handled by your city or county, and rules in town can be very different from rules in the country.

We check your local rules before delivery. If you want a head start, call your city or county permitting office and ask about temporary occupancy of a travel trailer during repairs: whether a temporary-use permit is needed, how long it lasts, and what water, sewer, and power connections the office requires.

Mississippi recovery resources to know

MEMA’s recovery offices include Housing and Individual Assistance and Public Assistance, and MEMA explains that they work to maximize disaster assistance to eligible individuals and families through state and federal programs. When a federal declaration includes Individual Assistance, you apply with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362.

For insurance questions, MID’s statewide consumer line is toll-free at 800-562-2957, and its main switchboard is 601-359-3569.

For crews and agencies working in Mississippi

The same furnished units house crews on job sites and support agencies coordinating displaced households. Adjusters get one named contact and a placement tracked against the policy limit.

Frequently asked questions