State
Hattiesburg recycling program continues to grow
WDAM
The city of Hattiesburg created its curbside recycling program back in 2015 and relaunched in October 2017 with a goal of gaining 25 signups a month.
$350M One Lake Project still on drawing board
WAPT
Backers of the One Lake Project on the Pearl River say it could transform the river into a business and recreational hub for Jackson.
More cases of CWD were found. What will the management zones look like now?
Clarion Ledger
With four additional cases of chronic wasting disease, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is weighing its options on new management zones.
CDC concerned about zombie deer disease
WAPT
The Center for Disease Control is concerned about the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the deer population.
Governor declares state of emergency after storms
NewsMS
After tornados and severe storms hit Mississippi over the weekend, Governor Bryant has declared a state of emergency.
Delta residents go from farming to flood control as river waters rise
WLBT
Flood warnings remain in effect for the Mississippi River in Vicksburg this week.
The river is expected to rise for the next couple of weeks, and crest at around 51 feet.
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI TRYING TO REBUILD AFTER STORM DAMAGE
MPB
More than 35 counties in Mississippi are trying to recover from severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that happened over the past week. So far, 500 residencies, 200 roads and bridges, and 30 businesses are affected statewide. MPB's Jasmine Ellis reports on storm damage in Lowndes County where one person was killed.
State Government
HOUSE PASSES BILL SOME SAY GIVES LANDOWNERS IMMUNITY
MPB
A bill is making its way through the Mississippi legislature could limit a landowners liability when someone is seriously injured on their property.
Oil Spill
FSU Secures $8M From Triumph Board To Study Apalachicola Bay
WJCT
Florida State University is getting $8 million to study how to revive the Apalachicola Bay. The Board overseeing a settlement with BP from the 2010 oil spill approved the proposal Monday.
BP oil spill money to help counties battered by Hurricane Michael
PNJ
Regional
Rising Mississippi prompts spillway opening near New Orleans
AP
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin opening a historic flood control structure upriver from New Orleans this week to divert water from a rain-swollen Mississippi River and ease pressure on the levees that protect the city, Corps officials said Monday.
Mosaic officials: Slowly but surely the risk is lowering of castrophic failure of acidic lake atop Convent gypsum pile
The Advocate
Officials with Mosaic Fertilizer, the operator of the slipping pile of waste phosphogypsum and its lake of acidic water, say they see encouraging trends in their efforts to halt a potential slow-moving environmental disaster in St. James Parish.
Red snapper giants honored as reef zone expands
Al.com
State officials honored three Alabama scientists for decades of groundbreaking work on red snapper by naming new artificial reef zones after them. Several conservation groups were also honored, making for a total of eight newly named reef zones.
National
CDC to test for carcinogens around eight U.S. military bases
UPI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin testing humans for exposure to toxic fluorinated compounds surrounding eight former and current military bases in the United States.
New report from environmental group details reduced enforcement at EPA
CNN
There has been a drastic drop in the enforcement of environmental regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration, an advocacy group will say in a report issued to Congress on Tuesday.
Man who suffered brain damage from lead paint wins $2M
AP
A Baltimore jury has awarded around $2 million to a man who has permanent brain damage from being exposed to lead paint as a child.
Press Releases
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received additional damage reports from more than 35 counties due to severe storms and tornadoes on February 23rd, along with flooding that started on February 19th and is currently ongoing throughout the state.
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, close to 500 residences, over 200 roads and bridges and over 30 businesses are affected statewide.
Initial damage reports by county (assessments ongoing):
- Alcorn: Assessments ongoing, EF-0 and EF-1 tornado confirmed by National Weather Service – Memphis.
- Calhoun: 54 homes, two businesses and 20 roads damaged.
- Carroll: Assessments ongoing
- Chickasaw: One home, one business and 14 roads damaged.
- Clarke: Homes damaged, three businesses and two roads damaged.
- Clay: 72 homes, 12 roads and five bridges damaged
- Coahoma: Assessments delayed due to flooding
- Grenada: 105 homes and 22 businesses damaged. seven roads damaged.
- Humphreys: Assessments delayed due to flooding
- Issaquena: One home and five roads damaged.
- Itawamba: 41 roads damaged.
- Lafayette: Seven homes, three business, and three
- Lee: 60 homes damaged; some roads inaccessible.
- Lincoln: One home damaged.
- Lowndes: EF-0 Tornado in Artesia; EF-3 Tornado in Columbus, both confirmed by National Weather Service – Jackson
o Close to 900 without power.
o 19 injuries reported.
o 141 homes damaged; 28 businesses damaged; roads/bridges assessments ongoing.
o MEMA Personnel have been deployed to the city of Columbus and continue damage assessments.
o To view MEMA Field Services drone footage of the city of Columbus, click here. - Madison: Assessments ongoing
- Monroe: Assessments ongoing
- Montgomery: Assessments ongoing
- Noxubee: One home damaged
- Pontotoc: Nine bridges damaged
- Prentiss: 45 roads damaged
- Quitman: Assessments ongoing
- Rankin: One home damaged.
- Sharkey: Three homes and 11 roads damaged.
- Simpson: One business damaged.
- Smith: Six roads and three bridges damaged.
- Sunflower: Two homes and roads damaged or inaccessible.
- Tallahatchie: 35 homes, nine businesses and 29 roads damaged.
- Tishomingo: EF-2 Tornado confirmed by National Weather Service - Memphis; three homes, 36 roads and two bridges damaged
- Tunica: Three roads damaged
- Union: 22 roads damaged
- Warren: Assessments ongoing
- Washington: Assessments ongoing
- Webster: Two homes and multiple roads damaged.
- Yalobusha: Assessments ongoing
- Yazoo: Assessments ongoing
- Lowndes County: Townsend Community Center – 826 15th Street, Columbus, MS 39701
- Tallahatchie County: National Guard Armory – 409 South Cossar Ave, Charleston, MS 38921
Volunteer Reception Center:
Unaffiliated Volunteers looking to serve in the Columbus/Lowndes County area should register with the Volunteer Reception Center in Columbus. The Center is operated by “Volunteer Columbus”.
- Address - 223 22nd Street North, Columbus, MS 39701
- Phone Numbers: 662-370-8600, 662-370-8602 and 662-370-8603
- Residents in the Lowndes County area needing assistance are asked to use that same contact info.
MEMA Resources Deployed:
- Personnel deployed to affected areas for damage assessments, staffing of county emergency management offices, resident assistance and asset delivery.
- Drones with pilots to provide aerial capability in damage assessments, click here.
- 70,000 sandbags delivered to more than 10 counties statewide
- More than 200 tarps to Lowndes and Tishomingo Counties
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.
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USACE
Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District identified a landslide at Enid Lake in Mississippi Feb. 20 and detected additional movement on the landslide Feb. 22.
USACE
NEW ORLEANS – Increasing water levels as a result of heavy rain in the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys are prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to operate the Bonnet Carré Spillway to ensure safe passage of the Mississippi river through the greater New Orleans area.
