Flooding issues plague Lee County

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Much of northeast Mississippi is also reeling from days of torrential rains which brought flood damage.

It looked like a lake on Highway 45 between Shannon and Nettleton.

An oil rig sustained damage. Endville Road, west of Belden was closed because of high water.

One of the hardest hit areas was Satillo where a number of businesses on Highway 145 had flooding, and Saturday sand bags were assembled to prepare for another expected torrential rain.

Alderman Copey Grantham has been spearheading the recovery effort.

“You know we have a lot of businesses out here that need help so we’re out here to do just anything we can for them,” said Grantham.

April Hopkins is the owner of AJ’s Salon. They were busy preparing for the next round of rain.

“Well just with all the water coming in trying to get everything put up so hopefully we won’t get everything ruined too bad,” Hopkins.

Hopkins is impressed with the way the community has come together.

“Everybody’s been helping. All the other businesses kind of pack everything up and get the one sandbag that needed to and it’s been really good,” said Hopkins.

The water had receded a great deal in the Willow Creek community on Saturday but residents there suffered a great deal of flood damage.

Grantham says the city of Satillo is seeking relief.

“And we signed a declaration a state of emergency for the city. So we’ve declared that so we can help to get city funds and we’ve opened up housing for people who need somewhere to stay,” said Grantham.

“The flood damage here in Tupelo is quite extensive as you can see this church behind me has been flooded and the road in front of it is completely under water right off of Highway 45.”