A total of four tornadoes touched down in Mississippi during last week’s round of violent storms that wreaked havoc across the entire state.
Governor Tate Reeves took to social media Monday morning with an update on the inclement weather that rolled across the Magnolia State on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, an EF-1 tornado landed in Harrison County as well as Hinds County. An EF-0 tornado was spotted in Madison County and Warren County.
Damage assessments from the severe storms show that 286 homes, 47 roads, two bridges, seven public buildings, and three non-profit utility companies’ buildings were damaged, per the governor.
Two people were tragically killed as a result of the elements and seven have sustained injuries, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reports.
Shanika Newton, 43, was traveling south on Highway 49 in Leflore County on Wednesday night when her vehicle hydroplaned into a flooded ditch. Per a report from WAPT, she drowned in the ditch.
Newton’s death came after Shirley Wilson, 64, died earlier Wednesday after her home north of Harperville lost power. The TV station said Wilson had multiple health problems and was unable to use her oxygen concentrator. First responders were unable to get her to a hospital in time due to storm debris blocking the roads.
“Thank you to all those who are helping to respond and recover,” Reeves said. “Our entire state appreciates you.”
As things stand, 190 tarps, 4,000 bottles of water, and 100,000 sandbags have been distributed by emergency management staff statewide.
MEMA is also in the process of validating damage numbers from the storms to determine if the state is eligible to apply for federal aid.
