Death Toll From Wednesday Tornadoes Climbs

PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of another death and another missing person attributed to the severe weather system that is still impacting Mississippi. Coahoma County has now reported one death, and Benton County has reported another missing person.

This increases the number of deaths to EIGHT, and the number of missing persons to TWO. There have been more than 60 injuries attributed to the storms. Four deaths were reported in Benton County, two in Marshall County, one in Coahoma County and one in Tippah County.

Search and rescue is ongoing for the two missing persons in Benton County.

Several counties are reporting flash flooding today due to the stalled front over Mississippi. Six counties have reported roadway flooding, flooding to homes or damage from the storms today. Ten water rescues have occurred in Monroe County due to the floodwaters.

A shelter has been opened in Monroe County at Meadowood Baptist Church, 1512 Hatley Road, Amory. The shelters in Coahoma, Marshall and Tippah counties have been placed on standby. If a need arises for them to reopen, shelter staff could open them rapidly.

So far, the storms have caused widespread damage to more than 100 homes, mobile homes and businesses in Mississippi. Additional damage assessments are ongoing, and MEMA will release updated damage information as it becomes available.

Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of Emergency on Thursday for Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Quitman and Tippah counties and other affected areas of the state. The declaration allows local governments to request state assistance with response and recovery.

The State Emergency Operations Center will continue to monitor the situation over the holiday weekend and will maintain contact with key personnel and affected local governments.