Preliminary Damage Update #1 Following March 16-17, 2021 Severe Storms



PEARL, Miss. –  The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is responding to severe weather that impacted the state on March 16-17, 2021. During this event, many Mississippians experienced multiple waves of active weather resulting in damaging wind, flooding and tornadoes. So far, the National Weather Service has surveyed and confirmed a total of six tornadoes across the state:

  • Copiah County: EF-1 with winds of 100 mph (March 16)
  • Simpson County: EF-0 with winds of 75 mph (March 16)
  • Lamar County: EF-0 with winds of 80 mph (March 17)
  • Lincoln County: EF-1 with winds of 95 mph (March 17)
  • Wayne County: EF-2 with winds of 130-135 mph (March 17)
  • Wilkinson County: EF-0 with winds of 85 mph (March 17)

There are currently no reports of any injuries or fatalities as a result of the severe storms.

MEMA is assisting counties with preliminary damage assessments and at this time, 15 counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians have submitted damage reports to MEMA.

  • Hinds County – 3 homes affected
  • Itawamba County – 3 homes affected
  • Lamar County – 10 homes affected
  • Smith County – 11 homes affected; 4 businesses affected
  • Warren County – 1 home affected
  • Winston County – 3 homes affected
  • Yazoo County – 6 homes affected

 *These are preliminary numbers and could change throughout the assessment process.

If residents have immediate unmet needs, we advise them to contact their county emergency management agency. A list of those county contacts can be found here.

 

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