UPDATE: Injuries and Storm Damage in Three Counties Reported to MEMA

PEARL, Miss. (Press Release) — The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of damage to more than 70 homes and seven minor injuries from severe weather Sunday and Monday morning. The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed a tornado touched down in Covington County where an estimated 61 homes were damaged. The NWS Survey team preliminary findings show it was an EF-2 with 125 mph winds and path of 16 miles. Several counties are reporting road closures due to flooding, including Highway 49 in Simpson County between D’Lo and Braxton.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services and American Red Cross have opened a shelter at the Covington County Multipurpose Center, 68 Collins Industrial Park Drive in Collins.

Yazoo County Emergency Management Director Joey Ward reports the search for a 9-year-old girl believed to have been swept away by flash flood waters is ongoing.

The counties reporting damages are as follows:

  • Covington Co: 28 homes destroyed/major damage, 33 minor/affected.
    • Seven minor injuries. A Red Cross shelter is open at the Covington Multipurpose Building in Collins.
  • Holmes Co.: One home damaged, five roads affected by flooding.
  • Neshoba County: Seven homes damaged.
  • Newton Co.: 15-16 roads affected by flooding.
  • Noxubee Co.: Three homes damaged
  • Simpson County: 20 roads closed due to flooding, seven damaged. Hwy 49 closed near D’Lo.
  • Yazoo County: Search continues for a 9-year-old girl believed to have been swept into flood waters near her home. 20-man search and rescue team from Central MS assisting.

MEMA area coordinators are in contact with all affected county emergency managers ready to assist with any resources. Damage assessments are ongoing. Damage report updates will be released as they become available.

The National Weather Service says strong storms are possible again Tuesday with the main threats of 40-50 mph winds, hail and heavy rain so the public is asked to remain weather aware.

MEMA urges the public to report damages to your local Emergency Management Agency. For a list of contact numbers for your county, visit www.msema.org/local-ema. For more information, go to MEMA’s website at www.msema.org or download the MEMA mobile app on your iOS or Android device.

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Categories: Local News

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