MEMA sets level-3 emergency over flooding

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) – Flooding caused by the heavy rains already leaving an estimated $5 million damages according to Mississippi Emergency Management Agency director Gregory Michel.

It is primarily impacting the southeast region of the state. All the high water has prompted MEMA to raise its emergency level to 3.

Gregg Michel said, “What that means is we bring in additional resources; man additional of our emergency support function desks and just to add additional capabilities 24-7 during this period of time.”

He continued, “We have 16 counties statewide that were affected by th storm, but out of those 16, we had 8 counties that actually have made local proclamations of emergency, unfortunately, within those counties we got some municipalities that also made proclamations, so we got a total of 16 local proclamations have been made, right now, encompassing those 8 counties.”

Michel said three shelters are open in those areas and warns drivers to follow the old rule, “turn around, don’t drown.”