Residents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and parts of the Pine Belt are urged to take precautions as Tropical Storm Francine is expected to make landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday.
With the storm on the horizon, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is encouraging those in areas expected to be impacted to have a go-kit ready with food, water, supplies, and other important documents stored in a waterproof container. MEMA also encourages residents to keep a battery-powered radio on hand to monitor forecast updates in the event that the power goes out and be ready to evacuate homes if necessary.
Other important items can be found below:
We know Tropical Systems can cause some to be anxious. Our goal is to ensure you are prepared, not scared. Here is a checklist of what you need in your go-kit to help you get ready. Remember the first 72 is on you. We also have tips on how you can combat storm anxiety. pic.twitter.com/uymeOTxhki
— msema (@MSEMA) September 10, 2024
Additionally, MEMA has deployed over 100,000 sandbags to south Mississippi to help residents prepare for severe weather. The sandbags can be found at the following locations:
Forrest County
- Forrest County EOC – 4080 US Hwy 11, Hattiesburg
- Hattiesburg Fire Station #1 – 810 North Main Street, Hattiesburg
- Petal Fire Station #1 – 102 Fairchild Drive, Petal
- Forrest County District 5 Barn – 2169 Carnes Road, Brooklyn
Hancock County
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency will have self-serve sand and sandbags at the following locations beginning Tuesday. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels. Those in need of assistance with getting the sand-bags can contact the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency at (228)255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at (228)255-9191
- Emergency Operations Center/Storm Prep Building – 18333 Hwy 603, Kiln
- Old Hancock County Complex – 3068 Longfellow Drive, Bay St. Louis
- Lakeshore Community Center – 6440 Lower Bay Road, Bay St. Louis
- West Hancock Fire Department – 16006 Washington Street, Pearlington
- Diamondhead City Hall – 5000 Diamondhead Circle, Diamondhead
Harrison County
Bags and sand will be provided, but residents are required to bring their own shovels and fill the bags themselves.
- Harrison County Road Department -10076 Lorraine Rd., Gulfport
- D’Iberville Work Center -10085 1st Ave., D’Iberville
- Woolmarket Work Center -16395 Old Woolmarket Rd., Biloxi
- Lyman Work Center -15001 County Farm Rd., Gulfport
- Long Beach Work Center – 605 North Seal Ave., Long Beach
- Orange Grove Work Center – 8300 34th Ave., Gulfport
- Courthouse Rd. Pier – 96 Courthouse Rd., Gulfport
- Long Beach Harbor – 720 S Cleveland Ave., Long Beach
Jackson County
- Ocean Springs Public Works – 712 Pine Drive, Ocean Springs
- Behind Gautier City Hall, 3330 US-90, Gautier
- West Division Roads Department – North Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs
- Forts Lake Fire Department – 10701 Forts Lake Road, Moss Point
- Central Division Roads Department – 8500 Jim Ramsey Road, Vancleave
- New Central Fire Station – 4204 Bellview Street, Moss Point
- Jackson County Fairgrounds – 2902 Shortcut Road, Pascagoula
- Fontainebleau Fire Department – 3901 Hwy 57 South, Ocean Springs
- East Division Roads Department – 10825 Hwy 63, Moss Point
- St. Andrews Fire Department – 1401 Elm Street, Ocean Springs
Lamar County
- Lamar County Emergency Management – 196 Central Industrial Row, Purvis
- Northeast Fire Station – 753 Weathersby Road, Hattiesburg
- Sumrall City Hall – 4880 Hwy 589, Sumrall
Pearl River County
- Henleyfield-Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 – 6868 Hwy 43 North, Carriere
- Nicholson Volunteer Fire Department Station 1 – 1981 Hwy 11 South, Picayune
- Pinegrove Station 2 – 262 Liberty Road, Picayune
- Emergency Operations Center – 810 Hwy 11 South, Poplarville
