State
Video shows waterspout tearing off roof at Chevron in Pascagoula
Sun Herald
Officials expressed concerns over flooded streets and rising rivers Sunday after thunderstorms pelted the Mississippi Coast.
Small tornado causes damage to Pascagoula Chevron plant, community rep. says
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- A viral video showing a tornado touching down at the Pascagoula Chevron plant has left one with a minor injury, according to Community Affairs Representative, Amy Brandenstein.
JCUA being investigated by FBI, county supervisor confirms
WLOX
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Jackson County Supervisor Randy Bosarge confirmed to WLOX News Now the Jackson County Utility Authority is being investigated by the FBI.
FBI launches investigation of Jackson County Utility Authority
Mississippi Press
JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Although its focus is as yet unknown, local officials have confirmed the FBI has begun an investigation of activities involving the Jackson County Utility Authority.
Bay keeps $13 utility fee to pay FEMA
Sea Coast Echo
The Bay St. Louis City Council on Tuesday approved a motion to extend the $13 fee on utility billings through Dec. 31 to satisfy a payment to FEMA for the Beach Blvd. sewer, drainage and lift station project.
Mississippi could sue solar panel maker that owes $74.8M
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
Mississippi officials are considering whether to sue a solar panel maker that recently announced it will be closing its Hattiesburg plant, which had received millions in loans and incentives from the state.
Oil Spill
Research continues on oil spill impact
The Advocate
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium scientists will continue to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on southeastern Louisiana marsh ecosystems under the umbrella of the Coastal Waters Consortium.
BP money buys critical piece of Grand Bay Savanna, 26,000 acres now protected
Al.com
The Nature Conservancy, working with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, has acquired the last and most important piece of land in the Grand Bay Savanna using money from the BP oil spill.
Coastal authority focuses on southeast La. restoration projects
Times-Picayune
Overview of southeastern Louisiana coastal restoration projects
The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority outlined more than $1 billion of coastal restoration projects that have been recently completed, are under construction, or are in design at its monthly meeting in Belle Chasse on Wednesday (Oct. 18).
Regional
Has Chemours followed N.C. DEQ demands on GenX-related compounds?
Star News
RALEIGH -- The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality plans to tell Chemours next week whether it believes the company is abiding by a series of demands that, if not followed, could jeopardize the company’s discharge permit.
Toxic tensions in the heart of 'Cancer Alley'
The EPA says this town has the nation's highest risk of developing cancer from air toxins. The plant emitting the toxins says otherwise. Locals are outraged.
CNN
LaPlace, Louisiana (CNN)Geraldine Watkins sits at the kitchen table in her ranch home, rattling off the names of friends and relatives in her small Louisiana town who've died of cancer over the last 40 years.
National
EPA head denies meeting with 'polluters'
The Hill
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pushed back on accusations that he frequently meets with “polluters,” despite repeated sit-downs with fossil fuel companies and others regulated by the EPA.
Trump Plan for Coal, Nuclear Power Draws Fire From Environmental, Oil Groups
Critics from factions often at odds are calling Trump administration’s proposal a bailout for struggling power plants
WSJ
WASHINGTON—A Trump administration proposal aimed at shoring up coal-fired and nuclear power plants across the nation has generated opposition from an array of energy and consumer interests, including some who are often at odds on energy policy.
Safety experts worry as industry insider changes EPA’s stance on toxic chemicals
NY Times
WASHINGTON
For years, the Environmental Protection Agency has struggled to prevent an ingredient once used in stain-resistant carpets and nonstick pans from contaminating drinking water.
E.P.A. Cancels Talk on Climate Change by Agency Scientists
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has canceled the speaking appearance of three agency scientists who were scheduled to discuss climate change at a conference on Monday in Rhode Island, according to the agency and several people involved.
Amid environmental concerns, crews haul away Puerto Rican debris
CNN
None of it was supposed to be garbage. Yet, for weeks, heaps of discarded possessions grew to towering heights across Puerto Rico.
Opinion
Trump Caves on Ethanol
The biofuels lobby overwhelms a core campaign promise.
Editorial – WSJ
The bipartisan pull of corporate welfare—also known as the swamp—is powerful. Last week it swallowed up no less than Donald Trump and his fearless Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt.
Press Releases
GOV. BRYANT DECLARES FALL SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDENESS WEEK
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant declares Oct. 23-27 as Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi.
Mississippi is making the transition into fall, opening the severe weather season. The state has been hit by 779 tornadoes in the months of November through February since 1950, according to the National Weather Service. Tornadoes cause an average of eight deaths and 107 injuries per year in Mississippi.
On Jan. 20, 2017 tornadoes killed four Mississippians and injured 60 others. The first was an EF-3 that struck Lamar, Forrest and Perry counties damaging more than 1,000 homes. Damage was also reported in Franklin, Jones, Lauderdale, Pike and Wilkinson counties.
“The Fall and Winter months are beautiful here in Mississippi, but can also be dangerous with wild swings in the weather,” said Gov. Bryant. “I encourage all Mississippians to be prepared and have a plan, especially around the holidays when we welcome so many friends and family to our great state.”
The National Weather Service will issue a statewide test tornado warning on NOAA weather radios at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Schools, government agencies and businesses throughout the state are encouraged to participate in the tornado drill.
“We stress three things for people to remember for a severe weather plan,” said MEMA Director Lee Smithson. “Get out of mobile homes, don’t travel and know where your safe place is.”
Federal, state and local governments have invested millions of dollars in more than 100 safe rooms across Mississippi that are intended to protect citizens from severe weather. The buildings are constructed to withstand 200 mph winds. Check with your county emergency manager to find out the closest one in your area or where a local shelter will be available.
MEMA and the NWS will focus on specific types of severe weather each day of the week on social media and websites. The outline is as follows:
- Monday, Oct. 23: Alerts and Warnings. There are numerous ways to receive weather alerts from your cellphones to weather radios to mass notification systems.
- Tuesday, Oct 24: Severe Thunderstorms. Lightning, large hail and damaging winds from severe storms are just as dangerous as tornadoes.
- Wednesday, Oct. 25: Tornado Safety. A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:15 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 26: Flooding and Flash Flooding. Flooding is the number one cause of weather-related deaths behind heat. Remember… Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
- Thursday, Oct. 27: Winter Weather. Surprisingly, these winter events can affect the Magnolia State before winter officially begins in late December.
Local weather information and alerts are available through the NWS online at the following websites:
There are several ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a NOAA weather radio, or one of several applications on mobile devices. A number of free mobile applications are available for download on smart phones, which can alert you when a watch or warning is issued for your area. You can download MEMA’s free preparedness mobile app on your phone or tablet by searching “Mississippi EMA”.
For detailed preparedness information, contact your county emergency management agency, or go to MEMA’s website at www.msema.org. The best way to get up-to-date information is to “Like” MEMA and the National Weather Service on Facebook, or “Follow” us on Twitter.
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