JACKSON, Miss. -- President Donald Trump green-lit disaster relief for eight states on Friday, assistance that some of the communities rocked by natural disasters have been waiting on for months.

Trump has not acted on 17 disaster requests, a high number for this time of year, according to a FEMA daily report released Wednesday. On the same date eight years ago, during Trump’s first presidency, only three disaster requests were awaiting presidential action, the FEMA report from May 21, 2017, shows.

Residents are encouraged to file insurance claims and then register for assistance online, by phone, or through the FEMA app. Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was recently appointed to a FEMA review panel,