MSEMA Issues Damage Report from Friday Storms

Media Contact 866-920-MEMA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6:30 p.m. April 16, 2011 Additional weather damage reports, more shelters open PEARL –The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency teamed up with local officials to begin initial damage assessments in areas impacted by Friday’s severe storms. Eight teams left the State Emergency Operations Center this morning headed towards Hinds County, one of the hardest hit areas. Teams also traveled to Greene and Kemper counties, two other heavily impacted areas, to do initial damage assessments. Based on information collected by the teams, 245 of the 258 homes/mobile that were destroyed or received major damage occurred in those three counties. All damages and operations are as follows:

Adams: Reports of trees down.

Attala: Two injuries have been reported and one mobile home destroyed.

Choctaw: Four public roads destroyed, six public roads with major damage.

Clarke: One home destroyed, one home with minor damage and 10 roads with minor damage.

Clay: Fifteen homes and 30 apartments with minor damage.

Copiah: Two homes with minor damage.

Greene: One fatality, six injuries and 23 homes destroyed, 28 with major damage and 47 with minor damage. Five businesses destroyed, five with major and four with minor damage. The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Leakesville Community Center, 1627 Center St., Leakesville. Emergency Response Vehicles will provide food, which is sponsored by the American Red Cross.

Hinds: Thirty four homes destroyed, 117 with major damage and 162 homes with minor damage. Three businesses destroyed, six with major damage and 10 with minor damage. Seven injuries reported. The ARC and Salvation Army are providing food and water throughout the county. MEMA has provided six light sets and 100 tarps. The Salvation Army continues feeding operations. Two ERVs in city of Clinton and the Queens area in Jackson will provide food and the ARC is setting up a kitchen at Morrison Height Baptist Church, 201 Morrison Road in Clinton. The ARC ill also open a shelter at 5 p.m. at the Clinton YMCA, 400 Lindale.

Issaquena: One mobile home destroyed.

Kemper: Twenty six homes destroyed, 17 with major damage and 16 with minor damage. Three business buildings destroyed, one with minor damage. More than 100 people are displaced. Officials are opening a shelter at the Farmer’s Market in Dekalb. The ARC is setting up a feeding area at DeKalb Baptist Church, 11 Bell Street. Additionally, three ERVs will provide countywide feeding. Leflore: One home with minor damage, one mobile home destroyed and one with minor damage, one business and one farm with minor damage. Monroe: Five public roads and three bridges with minor damage.

Neshoba: Five homes with minor damage, one mobile home destroyed and one minor. Two farm buildings destroyed, one with major damage and two with minor damage.

Rankin: Several homes uninhabitable and at least one road closed in the Pisgah/Sandhill community.

Scott: Two homes with major damage and one mobile home destroyed, three with minor damage. Simpson: Reports of damage to homes and mobile homes, several roads closed due to flooding and debris.

Tallahatchie: At least one home with damage and numerous trees down and power outages throughout the county.

Warren: Two homes with major damage and one mobile home destroyed. One person listed with minor injuries. Wayne: One home destroyed, one home with major damage and one business with major damage. Two people are homeless and the ARC has contacted home owners to meet immediate needs. Damage assessments are continuing throughout the state.