MEMA releases updated statewide damage report

PEARL, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE)  – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received additional damage reports from more than 35 counties due to severe storms and tornadoes on February 23^rd, along with flooding that started on February 19^th and is currently ongoing throughout the state.

These damage reports serve only as initial assessments from the county emergency management offices and will change (either higher or lower) as additional reports and assessments are sent to MEMA.

So far, close to 500 residences, over 200 roads and bridges and over 30 businesses are affected statewide.

Initial damage reports by county (assessments ongoing):

(WCBI viewing area counties in bold)

• Alcorn: Assessments ongoing, EF-0 and EF-1 tornado confirmed by National Weather Service – Memphis.
• Calhoun: 54 homes, two businesses and 20 roads damaged.
• Carroll:Assessments ongoing
• Chickasaw: One home, one business and 14 roads damaged.
• Clarke:Homes damaged, three businesses and two roads damaged.
• Clay: 72 homes, 12 roads and five bridges damaged
• Coahoma:Assessments delayed due to flooding
• Grenada:105 homes and 22 businesses damaged. seven roads damaged.
• Humphreys:Assessments delayed due to flooding
• Issaquena: One home and five roads damaged.
• Itawamba: 41 roads damaged.
• Lafayette: Seven homes, three business, and three
• Lee: 60 homes damaged; some roads inaccessible.
• Lincoln: One home damaged.
• Lowndes: EF-0 Tornado in Artesia; EF-3 Tornado in Columbus, both confirmed by National Weather Service – Jackson
  • Close to 900 without power.
  • 19 injuries reported.
  • 141 homes damaged; 28 businesses damaged; roads/bridges assessments ongoing.
  • MEMA Personnel have been deployed to the city of Columbus and continue damage assessments.
  • To view MEMA Field Services drone footage of the city of Columbus, click here
• Madison: Assessments ongoing
• Monroe: Assessments ongoing
• Montgomery: Assessments ongoing
• Noxubee: One home damaged
• Pontotoc: Nine bridges damaged
• Prentiss: 45 roads damaged
• Quitman: Assessments ongoing
• Rankin: One home damaged.
• Sharkey: Three homes and 11 roads damaged.
• Simpson: One business damaged.
• Smith: Six roads and three bridges damaged.
• Sunflower: Two homes and roads damaged or inaccessible.
• Tallahatchie:35 homes, nine businesses and 29 roads damaged.
• Tishomingo: EF-2 Tornado confirmed by National Weather Service – Memphis; three homes, 36 roads and two bridges damaged
• Tunica: Three roads damaged
• Union: 22 roads damaged
• Warren: Assessments ongoing
• Washington: Assessments ongoing
• Webster: Two homes and multiple roads damaged.
• Yalobusha: Assessments ongoing
• Yazoo: Assessments ongoing

Open Shelters:

• Lowndes County: Townsend Community Center – 826 15^th Street, Columbus, MS 39701
• Tallahatchie County: National Guard Armory – 409 South Cossar Ave, Charleston, MS 38921

Volunteer Reception Center:

Unaffiliated Volunteers looking to serve in the Columbus/Lowndes County area should register with the Volunteer Reception Center in Columbus.  The Center is operated by “Volunteer Columbus”.

• Address – 223 22^nd Street North, Columbus, MS 39701
• Phone Numbers: 662-370-8600, 662-370-8602 and 662-370-8603
• Residents in the Lowndes County area needing assistance are asked to use that same contact info.

MEMA Resources Deployed:

• Personnel deployed to affected areas for damage assessments, staffing of county emergency management offices, resident assistance and asset delivery.
• Drones with pilots to provide aerial capability in damage assessments, click here.
• 70,000 sandbags delivered to more than 10 counties statewide
• More than 200 tarps to Lowndes and Tishomingo Counties

The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and monitoring any requests or unmet needs from the county emergency management offices.

The public is encouraged to report damage to homes or businesses to their county emergency management office. A directory of all the offices can be found at http://www.msema.org/county-ema/

MEMA will provide updates as information becomes available. The best way to get up-to-date information during this event is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook, or “Follow” us on twitter @msema.