PEARL, Miss. – Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is trying to gain federal assistance to help with recovery after tornadoes swept through South Mississippi December 23. MEMA has submitted a formal request to FEMA for Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments to take place on Monday so it can be determined if any federal assistance may be available.
Initial damage numbers from the tornadoes that show 241 total homes and 77 businesses were affected. There were also four deaths and 50 injuries.
- Marion Co.: 108 homes and 43 businesses destroyed/major damage.
- Jones Co.: 12 homes and one business destroyed/major damage.
- Lamar Co.: one business major damage.
This weekend there is a new severe weather threat, mainly the possibility for heavy rainfall for most of the state tonight through Sunday morning. Severe thunderstorms may include damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes are possible for areas mainly south of Highway 84.
