It’s been nearly two years since an EF-4 tornado ripped through the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork and neighboring communities, claiming multiple lives, destroying several homes and businesses, and causing mass devastation. Now, technology has been installed in the city to prepare for possible future natural disasters.
North Mississippi Storm Chasers, a nonprofit committed to safely documenting and reporting storms, placed a sky camera on Academy Drive near Highway 61 in Rolling Fork, which was arguably hit hardest in the March 2023 storms. TecInfo Communications and WxLogic assisted in installing the device.
The camera will provide 24-hour live stream video feeds, allowing North Mississippi Storm Chasers, the National Weather Service, local media, and others to view storms in real-time and determine if a tornado has formed so warnings can be upgraded or issued.
In the aftermath of the 2023 disaster, “Good Morning America” and host Robin Roberts, a Magnolia State native, visited Rolling Fork to broadcast just how badly the region had been impacted by the extreme weather event. The “Mississippi Strong” campaign was kicked off and hundreds of thousands of dollars were donated to help the community’s restoration efforts. Tens of millions in federal relief funds were also made available.
A group of Ole Miss football players were among countless volunteers and Good Samaritans who offered their time and efforts to help clear debris in the city.
Today, Rolling Fork is not quite back to its pre-tornado state, but the town is still working toward a full recovery. In the meantime, the city’s new sky camera will help monitor the weather in the event another major storm is on the horizon.
