MEMA releases statewide damage reports from tornado outbreak

PEARL, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) –  – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received damage reports from 21 counties due to tornadoes and severe storms that began on April 13^th.

Governor Phil Bryant signed and declared a State of Emergency April 14^th, which covers all counties affected by the weekend’s tornadoes and severe storms. A State of Emergency is an administrative tool that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in response and recovery efforts.

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, over 170 residences and 30 businesses were affected statewide.

The National Weather Services in Jackson, New Orleans and Memphis have confirmed a total of 11 tornadoes that impacted the state over the weekend. One storm-related fatality and 18 injuries have been reported to MEMA thus far.

Initial damage reports by county (assessments ongoing):

• Attala: One home damaged
• Choctaw: No damage reported at this time
  • EF-1 tornado started in the county before crossing into Webster County.
• Clarke: Assessments ongoing
  • EF-2 tornado in the city of Quitman (initial ruling)

• Clay: 10 homes, 13 businesses and four roads damaged
• Covington: Assessments ongoing, one injury reported
• Hinds: Assessments ongoing
• Holmes: Assessments going
• Itawamba: Building assessments ongoing; seven roads and one bridge damaged.

• Jackson:  Seven homes damaged
  • EF-1 tornado in the town of Escatawpa (initial ruling)

• Jasper: One home damaged
• Kemper: Assessments ongoing
• Leake: Assessments ongoing
  • EF-1 tornado in the town of Thomastown

• Madison: Assessments ongoing
• Monroe: 130 homes, 14 apartments, two business and three public buildings damaged. One fatality and 17 injuries reported
  • EF-2 tornado in the town of Hamilton
  • EF-1 tornado in the town of Greenwood Springs (initial ruling)

• Oktibbeha: Assessments ongoing
  • EF-2 tornado near the Winston County/Oktibbeha County line
  • EF-1 tornado in the city of Starkville

• Rankin: Assessments ongoing
• Simpson: Assessments ongoing.
• Smith: Two homes damaged
• Walthall: Assessments ongoing
• Warren: 50 homes, 17 businesses and 13 public buildings damaged
  • Two EF-2 tornadoes in the city of Vicksburg

• Webster: No damage reported at this time.
  • EF-0 tornado, just south of Mantee
  • EF-1 tornado crossed from Choctaw County into the town of Mathiston.

• Winston: Assessments ongoing
• Yazoo: Assessments ongoing

Mississippi Civil Defense and Emergency Management Association (MCDEMA)

• Emergency Managers have been assisting their county neighbors/partners in damage assessments and resource sharing through the Statewide Mutual Aid Compact (SMAC)
• SMAC provides a plan/agreement for cities and counties to request and receive assistance from each other when local resources are exhausted.

MEMA Resources Deployed:

• MEMA’s Mobile Command Center is now set up in Monroe County to assist with providing communications and workspace while towers are being restored.

• Personnel deployed to affected areas for damage assessments, staffing of county emergency management offices and asset delivery.
• Drones with pilots to provide aerial capability in damage assessments.
• 800 tarps to affected 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.

You can also visit our incident specific page on our website, http://www.msema.org/news/april-13-14-tornado-outbreak/