State
Seventh Ave. ditch project completed
Commercial Dispatch
In three months, the Seventh Avenue ditch has transformed from an open, jagged trench filled with snakes, exposed pipes and other dangers to an unassuming grassy space.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=55790
House votes to name building after Nunnelee
Daily Journal
JACKSON – The state House, without a dissenting vote Tuesday, opted to name the Department of Environmental Quality building after Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo, who served in both the Mississippi Senate and U.S. House before dying in 2015.
http://djournal.com/news/house-votes-name-building-nunnelee/
Four counties declared federal disaster areas after weekend storms
Sun Herald
President Donald Trump has declared four Mississippi counties federal disaster areas after severe storms and tornadoes destroyed more than 1,100 homes and left four dead.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/weather/article128703619.html
State Rep. Morgan talks deer, turkey tagging
Clarion Ledger
A bill calling for required tagging and harvest reporting of deer and turkeys has been introduced in the Mississippi House of Representatives. Rep. Ken Morgan (R-Morgantown), who authored House Bill 1028, offered thoughts on the bill.
BOEM AND USACE SIGN AGREEMENT ON RESTORATION OF MISSISSIPPI BARRIER ISLAND
Sand and Gravel
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between BOEM and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District.
http://www.sandandgravel.com/news/article.asp?v1=23690
County second in U.S. in cancer death rate according to recently published study
Madison County Journal
A recent report from a peer reviewed medical journal says Madison County has one of the highest cancer death rates by county in the nation. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled "Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Cancer Mortality Among US Counties, 1980-2014," looks at cancer trends by county over a 34 year period.
In reversal, House votes to limit attorney general's powers
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
Mississippi's Democratic attorney general is lashing out at Republican lawmakers who are trying to limit his powers.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article128710579.html
Regional
371-foot ship new Gulf of Mexico artificial reef off Texas
AP
GALVESTON, TEXAS
A 371-foot former cargo vessel named for a mythical sea monster has become an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article128621184.html
Christmas tree project is popular way to rebuild Louisiana's coast
Times-Picayune
Jason Montagino has seen coastal erosion displace his neighbors and hurt the fishing business in the Jean Lafitte area for as long as he can remember. "The land means a lot. You don't want to see it erode away," Montagino said. "When the land erodes away, then the people don't have a place to live."
http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans/2017/01/christmas_tree_project_in_lafi.html#incart_river_index
National
Trump delays dozens of EPA regs
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will delay dozens of Obama-era regulations that were ensnared by President Trump's regulatory moratorium.
http://thehill.com/regulation/316049-trump-delays-dozens-of-epa-regs
Trump Freezes EPA Grants as States Scramble for Funds
Bloomberg
The Trump administration has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to stop issuing grants and contracts, throwing agency programs into a state of uncertainty as budgets and priorities are reviewed.
https://www.bna.com/trump-freezes-epa-n73014450210/?amp=true
Trump administration backs off plan to scrub climate pages from EPA website
Washington Post
The Trump administration on Wednesday backed away from plans to take down some climate-change information from the Environmental Protection Agency's website, which employees said had been planned for this week. But political appointees are exerting more oversight over the agency's scientific communications.
EPA Science Under Scrutiny by Trump Political Staff
AP
The Trump administration is scrutinizing studies and data published by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, while new work is under a "temporary hold" before it can be released.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/epa-science-scrutiny-trump-political-staff-45047696
EPA spokesman: Political staff won't interfere with science
The Hill
A Trump administration spokesman said Wednesday that political appointees will not be interfering with or filtering scientific communications at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
White House says it hasn't told agencies to stop tweeting
The Hill
The White House on Wednesday denied it has directed federal agencies to stop using social media, saying new restrictions on communications have instead come from within those agencies themselves.
Lower stretch of Mississippi River calls for improvements
AP
ST. PAUL, MINN.
A new report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the upper Mississippi River is in good shape, but the water quality quickly degrades as it flows toward the Twin Cities.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article128746259.html
New York State's First Offshore Wind Farm Gets Green Light
Construction on the $740 million project on Long Island will start in 2020
WSJ
UNIONDALE, N.Y.—The Long Island Power Authority completed an agreement Wednesday to build New York state's first offshore wind farm 30 miles east of Montauk, N.Y., the latest effort by the industry to gain traction in the U.S. market.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/deal-set-to-build-new-york-states-first-offshore-wind-farm-1485376801
Press Releases
Agriculture Conservation Easement Program from USDA/NRCS
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation
Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP provides financial and technical assistance to
landowners and Native American Tribes with conservation efforts on agricultural
lands and wetlands.
The application deadline to be considered for fiscal year 2017 funding is February 24, 2017.
ACEP consists of two separate components, the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
option and the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) option. These options are tailored to
benefit different land types that meet specific qualifications and are cost effective.
The ALE component is geared to protect agricultural lands devoted to food
production from conversion into non-agricultural uses. The WRE component
aims to restore, enhance and protect wetlands through the purchase of a
wetlands reserve easement. Both programs assist in improving wildlife habitat.
Applications for all NRCS financial-assistance programs are accepted on a
continuous sign-up process, however specific sign-up deadlines are established
to rank, contract and fund qualified tracts of land. The final deadline for
consideration in the fiscal year 2017 funding period for ACEP is February 24, 2017.
Landowners, Non-Government Organizations, and Native American Tribes
interested in participating in ACEP should visit the nearest USDA Service
Center for more information.
To locate your local service center, visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ms/home/.
Applications are available at GetStarted.
###
Four Mississippi Counties Declared Federal Disaster Areas
JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant announced that President Donald Trump declared Forrest, Lamar, Lauderdale and Perry counties federal disaster areas this afternoon from severe storms and tornadoes that hit Mississippi Jan. 21.
"I would like to thank President Trump's administration for its exceptionally quick response to our Mississippians in need," Gov. Bryant said. "With more than 500 homes either destroyed or having suffered major damage, this federal assistance is critical to help these counties recover. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with the four people killed, those injured and everyone who is faced with the task of rebuilding."
Approved in this disaster declaration are:
- Individual Assistance- Grants to individuals and households.
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Statewide).
Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams made up of MEMA, FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration and local officials are surveying additional damages to be considered for additional federal disaster assistance.
Anyone with damages in these counties may apply by going to www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The speech or hearing impaired may call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.
Information about Disaster Recovery Centers opening in the declared counties will be released as soon as it becomes available, but please do not wait to register for assistance either online or by phone.
###
Severe Weather Recovery Update : Wed. 12:30p.m.
PEARL – Updated damage reports to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency show a total of more than 1,200 homes damaged in eight counties, 549 of them were destroyed or sustained major damage. There were also four confirmed deaths and 59 injuries from tornadoes and severe storms on Jan 21-22.
Gov. Phil Bryant sent an official request for a Federal Disaster Declaration to President Donald J. Trump Monday night. The request is for Individual Assistance to help affected residents in Forrest, Lamar, Lauderdale and Perry counties. The request is still pending approval.
A breakdown of damage by county:
- Forrest: Four deaths and 56 injuries. 499 homes destroyed/major damage, 632 minor/affected.
- These damage numbers have changed based on further information from the county.
- These damage numbers have changed based on further information from the county.
- Franklin: One home major damage and two bridges destroyed, one road with major damage.
- Jones: One injury, one home destroyed, two with minor damage.
- Lamar: 26 homes destroyed/major damage, 52 minor. Two roads major damage.
- Lauderdale: One injury, 10 homes, one business and one farm building destroyed/major damage, 11 homes minor damage.
- Perry: One injury, six homes destroyed/major damage, five homes minor damage.
- Pike: One home destroyed, five with minor damage.
- Wilkinson: One home with minor damage and seven roads with minor damage.
The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed an EF-3 tornado struck portions of Lamar and Forrest counties, and an EF-2 touched town in Lauderdale County. NWS Mobile ruled an EF-2 tornado struck Perry County.
There are an estimated 800 residents without power, mostly in the Hattiesburg area, according to the Dixie Electric Power Association.
The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated with MEMA and key state agencies coordinating resources to the affected areas.
-more-
MS Department of Human Services & American Red Cross:
- Forrest County 361 Saferoom/Shelter: 52 occupants reported; MS Department of Mental Health has a crisis team on site to assist with any potential needs.
- MDHS provided SNAP replacement benefits and issued applications to potential new clients.
MS Department of Mental Health:
- Mobile Crisis Team continues to provide help to Pine Belt Mental Health affected clients.
- Representatives are on standby to assist in checking the addresses of affected homes against the list of individuals served by the Medicaid IDD Waiver program to ensure resident safety.
American Red Cross:
- ARC has mobile feeding units in Lamar, Forrest and Perry counties.
o ARC also has "Points of Presence" Units:
- 823 Edwards Street, Hattiesburg (Open 12pm-5pm)
- E. Jerusalem Baptist Church, 410 S. Tipton Street, Hattiesburg (Open 12pm-5pm)
- Casework team in Lauderdale County with Disaster Mental Health and Health Services.
- Preparing for Direct Client Assistance.
- Six Emergency Response Vehicles serving routes in affected areas.
Salvation Army:
- Two mobile kitchens and three catering trucks deployed throughout the Pine Belt area.
MS Department of Public Safety:
- MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks assigned 10 Special Response Team (SRT) officers to Hattiesburg Police Department.
- Mississippi Highway Patrol has 20 troopers in the city of Petal and eight assisting William Carey University.
MS National Guard:
- 22 National Guardsmen deployed to Forrest County assisting law enforcement.
MS Department of Health:
- Administering Tetanus shots in the affected areas at county Health Dept. offices.
- Environmental inspections of shelters, restaurants and feeding stations in affected areas.
-more-
MS Department of Education:
- Working with the Petal School District on the two damaged schools (Pearl Primary & Upper Elementary).
o Petal School District is back in session with a 94% attendance rate.
MS Department of Environmental Quality:
- Coordinating with all affected counties on debris management and disposal plans.
MS Emergency Management Agency:
- Six generators provided to Forrest County.
- 3,000 tarps and 1,500 bottles of water delivered to affected areas.
- Eight Disaster Reservists activated.
Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of Emergency and signed an executive order to authorize use of the National Guard on January 21st.
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.
###
Volunteer and Donation Information for Tornado Recovery
PEARL – The following opportunities are available for people who would like to volunteer or donate in support of the tornadoes and severe storms survivors in Mississippi.
Monetary Donations:
The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation is accepting monetary donations to help those in need. Donations can be made directly through the website: www.PineBeltFoundation.org. Please indicate the name of the Fund in the message line.
The United Way of Southeast Mississippi is also accepting monetary donations, which can be made through their website: http://www.unitedwaysems.org/give.
Volunteering:
Volunteer Hattiesburg/United Way of Southeast MS is posting immediate needs, opportunities and donation collection points on their website and social media platforms - http://www.unitedwaysems.org and @unitedwaysems respectively.
Volunteers and volunteer groups alike should coordinate all activities through the two Volunteer Response Centers (VRC) so that response is most efficient. The following VRCs are open:
- Hattiesburg VRC, coordinated by Volunteer Mississippi and the Knights of Columbus
Location: East Jerusalem Baptist Church
Address: 410 S. Tipton St. Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 601-606-3523
E-mail: vrchattiesburg@gmail.com
- Petal Volunteer Response Center
Location: Petal Civic Center
Address: 712A S. Main Street, Petal
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 601-606-7465
E-mail: vrcpetal@gmail.com
Work Orders will be facilitated through the Forrest County Emergency Management Agency and Crisis Cleanup so volunteers have a consistent flow of work.
Free Home Cleanup Hotline:
From now through February 11, 2017, several relief agencies are staffing a free hotline for debris removal and home cleanup after the recent tornadoes and severe weather. This hotline will connect survivors with reputable and vetted relief agencies that will assist in chainsaw work and debris cleanup, as they are able. All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the overwhelming need. Survivors should call 800-451-1954 for help.
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.
###
Free Tetanus Vaccinations Available
In Counties Affected by Weekend Tornadoes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2017 3:00 p.m.
CONTACT: The Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Communications 601-576-7667
JACKSON – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reminds all residents affected by the tornadoes over the weekend that a tetanus vaccination is recommended if it's been 10 years or more since your last tetanus vaccination.
In the event of a puncture wound or wound contaminated by floodwater, individuals should consult a healthcare provider.
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccinations are available at all county health departments and are FREE for all Mississippi residents affected by the storms or first responders.
Please call your county health department clinic for hours of operation or visit the MSDH website at www.HealthyMS.com.
Follow MSDH on Facebook and Twitter at www.HealthyMS.com/connect.
###
