Officials with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency wrap up their assessment of the damage caused by storms over the weekend, victims are asking for help and where to find it.
It was reported that more than 1,100 homes were damaged in seven counties as a result of Saturday’s storm.
The National Weather Service in Jackson is classifying the storm as and EF-3 tornado that struck portions of Lamar, Forrest, and Perry Counties. So far the Mississippi Power and Electric Power Associations estimate 2,058 residents went without power statewide. They are working to restore those outages.
For people looking for shelter or assistance in the wake of this tornado the Mississippi Department of Human Services and American Red Cross are offering shelter:
- Forrest County 361 Saferoom/Shelter- There have been 54 occupants reported and there is a crisis team on site to assist with any needs
- Petal Civic Center- No occupants were reported Monday
- The University of Southern Mississippi- Housing 30 international students that were attending William Carey University, whose campus is currently shut down indefinitely.
The Salvation Army has sent out two Canteen/Feeding Units in the Hattiesburg area and they are set up at the Forrest County Shelter. The other is a Roving Canteen that will be serving neighborhoods in Hattiesburg.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks has assigned 10 special Response Teams to provide security at William Carey University as well as teams for the city of Petal in areas that received major damage.
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Investigation will be providing added security for the Hattiesburg and Petal police departments. 30 Mississippi Highway Patrol Troopers will be providing traffic control in both cities as well.
Here’s a closer look:
- Forrest: Four deaths and 56 injuries reported with 411 homes destroyed or major damage. 588 with minor damage.
- Franklin: One home took on major damage and two bridges were destroyed
- Jones: Two injuries reported and three homes damaged.
- Lamar: 43 homes were destroyed or received major damage, nine home with minor damage.
- Perry: One injury reported, 10 homes damaged
- Pike: Two homes with minor damage reported
- Wilkinson: Three homes damaged.
MEMA has also stepped in to provide generators, tarps, and thousands of water bottles to those in affected areas. Three Disaster Reservists were deployed and are assisting the Forrest County Emergency Operations Center.
The devastation in the Magnolia state got the attention of U.S. lawmakers who honored the victims of the storm with a moment of silence on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mississippi Congressmen Thompson, Harper and Kelly joined with Congressman Palazzo (R-Miss.) and the members of the Georgia delegation in a moment of silence and statement honoring the Mississippians and Georgians who lost their lives over the weekend to the tornadoes that ripped through much of the state including Forrest, Franklin, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Perry, Pike, and Wilkinson counties.
Here’s a full video of the request on the House floor.
