North Mississippi and parts of the Delta continue to feel the impact of Winter Storm Fern as Gov. Tate Reeves provided an update on damage and response efforts Thursday afternoon.
Reeves said the death toll is up to 14. His office has now confirmed weather-related fatalities in Adams, Alcorn, Hinds, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leflore, Panola, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Warren counties. The Mississippi Insurance Department has confirmed three fire-related deaths in Adams, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties, in which residents were using space heaters and gas stoves to stay warm, although it is unclear if the governor’s office is including their full report in its count.
“Sadly, four more deaths have been reported – one in Lafayette County, one in Panola County, and two in Tippah County. This brings the total to 14 statewide. Please pray for the families,” Reeves wrote as part of the update on social media.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of 223 homes, 10 businesses, and seven farms damaged, destroyed, or affected statewide. 20 public roads sustained major damage, 50 sustained minor damage, and 12 have been destroyed. Two bridges have sustained minor damage. Officials expect those numbers to rise as damage assessments continue.
Currently, there are more than 98,000 power outages statewide, down from a peak of 180,000-plus on Sunday. Ice is still being reported in 28 counties. To assist those in need of heat, 79 warming centers remain open in 44 counties and five shelters are open in four counties.
Continued road issues
The Mississippi Department of Transportation was working Thursday afternoon to clear “problem areas” on Interstate 55, Interstate 22, Interstate 69, Interstate 269, Highway 302, Highway 72, and Highway 61.
Officials report that the problem areas are a result of temperatures dropping below freezing, black ice accumulation, and moisture refreezing on the roadways on Wednesday night. Transportation and public safety officials are opening portions of I-55 north incrementally as crews continue to advance toward the Tennessee state line.
Deployment of resources
Emergency management crews are continuing to deploy personnel and resources to impacted counties upon prior requests. The Mississippi State Department of Health is aiding in that effort with three ambulances and six workers in Yalobusha County and two ambulances and four workers in Tippah County. MSDH is also opening a medical needs shelter in Lafayette county to serve as an equipment and supplies hub.
The Mississippi National Guard, in collaboration with MEMA, is deploying generators, water, ready-to-eat meals, fuel, cots, and blankets to affected areas. Five National Guard trucks loaded with 66 pallets of meals, blankets, water, and cots have been delivered to Marshall, Bolivar, and Lafayette counties. The National Guard is also using helicopters to deliver supplies with more than 70,000 pounds of goods being dropped off at impacted areas to date.
An additional 150 Mississippi National Guard soldiers have been mobilized to assist the 500 initially deployed to aid in storm response efforts. Along with delivering supplies, troops have been supporting transportation crews in clearing roads in Alcorn, Lafayette, Panola, and Tippah counties, and even completed a mission to help transport dialysis patients in Claiborne County. A Mississippi National Guard Blackhawk helicopter also medevacked two people from Oxford to a hospital in Memphis.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assisting in generator installation at critical infrastructure sites, per Reeves. A total of 45 generators have been installed so far. Six generators have been installed in warming centers and shelters, 24 installed in water systems, four at water towers, three in personal care homes, two in assisted living facilities and long-term care homes, five in correctional facilities, and one at a fueling station.
The generators, in large part, have been delivered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is fulfilling the state’s request of 90 generators, along with 128,000 bottles of water, 107,000 meals, 2,178 cots, 9,000 blankets, 3,360 tarps, and 3,200 medical-grade oxygen cylinders.
FEMA is also sending four Starlink satellites, and the Elon Musk-founded company is providing 20 Starlink devices for counties to use. The devices will allow those in storm-affected areas to have access to high-speed internet.
Volunteer organizations are coordinating with MEMA to help in the impacted communities. Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief is mobilizing volunteers for chainsaw operations. 8 Days of Hope is providing free meals through their mass feeding ministry to Mississippians and deploying a rapid response team to help clean up. Samaritan’s Purse and the Cajun Navy are on the ground helping in the impacted counties.
Businesses are coordinating with MEMA’s Business Emergency Operations Center to assist. Walmart, in coordination with Matthew 25 Ministry’s Tide Loads of Hope Program, is sending a laundry and shower trailer with mobile charging to their Oxford store.
Officials urge those looking to help storm victims to avoid self-deploying and to join a verified organization or nonprofit that assists during disasters before heading to an affected area. MEMA has a web page with ways the public can help those in need at this time.
As crews continue to work in lockstep to help Mississippians recover from Winter Storm Fern, more cold weather is on the horizon. The National Weather Service is forecasting another round of “dangerously cold” temperatures for most of Mississippi this coming weekend. Officials urge the public to brace for the expected conditions.