PEARL, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has asked residents to prepare for the probability of severe storms Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service said in a statement that most of the state has a high risk of seeing strong tornadoes, high winds in excess of 60 mph and quarter size hail. The timeframe is from 5 p.m. through 6 a.m.
“With this system moving in after dark it is important to have a way to get weather alerts and know exactly what you will do,” said MEMA Executive Director Lee Smithson. “I especially encourage those living in mobile homes to find safe places to stay tonight, such as family or friends’ homes that are more sturdy or check with you local officials to see if a shelter will be open in your area.”
MEMA urged residents to clear yards of debris or holiday decorations as they could cause damage when picked up by high winds.
Some ways to receive severe weather warnings:
NOAA Weather Radio: An essential tool that should be in every home or business.
Wireless Emergency Alert Messages: Make sure these notifications are turned “on” in your phone settings.
Smartphone Applications.
MEMA’s social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter.
Local radio and TV stations.
Community tornado sirens.Follow @News_MS on Twitter
MEMA and the NWS both recommend you take the following steps:
Know your family emergency plan in case a weather warning is issued.
Check and restock your emergency supply kit in case you are without electricity for an extended period of time.
The State Emergency Operations Center will monitor the storms as they pass through the state, and release any updates as they become available. News Mississippi will continue to monitor the storms.
