The death toll linked to Winter Storm Fern has risen in Mississippi.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed three additional losses of life connected to the weather event, though the identities of the deceased and the location of the individuals’ passings were not announced.
The total storm-related death count now stands at 28. Previously reported deaths happened in Adams, Alcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Hinds, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leflore, Sharkey, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Warren, and Yazoo counties.
51 counties have reported damage from the storm, with updated numbers showing that 438 homes, 30 businesses, and 23 farms have been damaged or destroyed. Additionally, 20 public roads have sustained major damage, while 63 have sustained minor damage. These numbers are expected to rise as assessments continue.
MEMA encourages residents who sustained property damage to self-report on the agency’s website, allowing the state to document the extent of damage and the number of people impacted by the storm. Meanwhile, Gov. Tate Reeves has requested a major disaster declaration for all Mississippi counties with verified damage from the storm.
Power restoration efforts continue in the state. As of Wednesday afternoon, the statewide power outage number was around 28,236, down from a peak of 180,000-plus. 49 warming centers are currently open in 51 counties, serving approximately 510 people.