Update for Feb. 10-14 Pearl River Flood Event



PEARL, Miss. – The Pearl River at Jackson was at 29.85 feet, as of 8:15 a.m. Monday. Water has receded across the affected areas, and river levels will continue to fall throughout the week. The Pearl River crested in Marion County over the weekend and, as of 7:30 a.m., is at 25.45 feet in Columbia. We are now monitoring the river levels in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. MEMA is on standby to assist those counties with resources if requested.

Roughly 450 homes are damaged in Hinds and Madison Counties as a result of the flood. This number is a rough estimate and is likely to change throughout the week. MEMA will conduct more in-depth damage assessments beginning today.

Residents who have yet to report damage are still encouraged to do so by using MEMA’s self-reporting tool. The link can be found on our website https://www.msema.org/.

The shelters in Copiah County at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and in Hinds County at the Jackson Police Academy are closed. In Holmes County, the shelter at Milestone Elementary School, 147 Head Start Road, Tchula, MS 39169, is open. The Marion County shelter at New Life Church, 212 Eagle Day Avenue, Columbia, MS 39429, remains open.

The Resource Center at Christ United Methodist Church, 6000 Old Canton Road, Jackson, is open. Operating hours:

  • Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

MS 465 between US 61 and Eagle Lake Shore Road in Warren County will remain closed due to flooding. The Mississippi Department of Transportation has also reported that MS 587 between MS 44 and MS 586 in Marion County will remain closed in both directions until Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

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PEARL, Miss. – The Pearl River at Jackson was at 35.07 feet, as of 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.  Water has started to recede in certain portions of the affected areas. At this hour, the Reservoir’s outflow is at 35,000 cubic feet per second.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency began its assessments today in the northeast Jackson area to help compile damage and flood data.

Residents in Hinds, Rankin and Madison County can self-report damage to county emergency management agencies through MEMA’s self-reporting tool. Those links for each county can be found on our website https://www.msema.org/.

Map of Old River Cemetery in Simpson County

Over the next week, the state can expect one and a half to two inches of rain. That rainfall could have an impact on the southern counties along the Pearl River: Copiah, Simpson, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Marion, Pearl River, Hancock. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is in close contact with those county emergency management agency directors and is monitoring the situation.

MEMA and the Simpson County EMA are also monitoring the Old River Cemetery in Simpson County that could be impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding.

Temporary flight restrictions coordinated with the FAA are expected to expire by sundown, today.

The shelter at the Jackson Police Training Academy remains open and operational.

According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation crews inspected bridges and made repairs to damaged shoulders on State Route 427 in Leake County. The roadway is now OPEN for travel.

 

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PEARL, Miss. – According to the National Weather Service’s Tuesday morning hydrology report, the latest level for the Pearl River is 36.17 feet.

Water is not scheduled to drop below 33 feet until Friday. County damage assessments will soon follow, once the water recedes.

So far, 19 counties have submitted damage reports to MEMA for the February 10-14 severe weather and flooding event. Those counties include Quitman, Grenada, Clay, Oktibbeha, Lowndes, Leflore, Carroll, Holmes, Attala, Leake, Humphreys, Washington, Yazoo, Warren, Claiborne, Hinds, Rankin, Copiah and Greene.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks continues to assist local law enforcement during the flood event.  The shelter at the Jackson Police Training Academy remains open.

Across the state, Mississippi could see one to three inches of rainfall over the next few days, starting today. That rainfall could have an impact on the southern counties along the Pearl River: Copiah, Simpson, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Marion, Pearl River, Hancock. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is in close contact with those county emergency management agency directors and is monitoring the situation.

Just a reminder, residents in Hinds, Rankin and Madison County can self-report damage to county emergency management agencies through MEMA’s self-reporting tool. Those links for each county can be found on our website https://www.msema.org/.

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PEARL, Miss. – According to the National Weather Service, the Pearl River is expected to crest or nearing the crest at 36.74 feet.

While there are several inches of water in structures north of Lakeland Drive, the response to those areas continue and there are no unmet needs.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is assisting local law enforcement during the flood event. The Special Response Team conducted 16 rescues, 200 door to door knocks and 500+ public contacts.

The shelter at the Jackson Police Training Academy remains open and operational. Oktibbeha Shelter is closed.

Residents in Hinds, Rankin and Madison County can self-report damage to county emergency management agencies through MEMA’s self-reporting tool. Those links for each county can be found on our website https://www.msema.org/.

Looking ahead this week, heavy rainfall in Central Mississippi should start Tuesday. Another one to two inches could fall.

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PEARL, Miss. – Due to the severe weather that impacted the state starting February 10-14, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) received damage reports from affected counties and continues to assist with response efforts. At the time of this report, the Pearl River is expected to crest early Monday morning, February 17, 2020 between 37.5 feet to 38 feet.

Saturday, February 15, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries executed 159 door to door knocks and were able to alert 510 individuals of the flood in an effort to evacuate the areas.

The Office of Homeland Security also performed 4 assisted evacuations during the day Saturday, in Edwards and Terry in Hinds County. No evacuations were needed last night.

At the time of this release, eighteen counties submitted damage reports to MEMA. Four injuries were reported.

The following damage reports serve only as initial assessments from the county emergency management offices and can change as MEMA receives additional reports and assessments.

Updated damage reports by county (numbers subject to change):

  • Attala: Flash flooding
  • Carroll: Flash flooding, four roads closed
  • Clay: 130 homes affected; eight roads with damage; 10 roads closed
  • Copiah: Five roads closed, 120 sandbags distributed; 14 roads affected impacting 83 homes; two high water vehicles deployed to Hinds County
  • Greene: four homes minor damage
  • Grenada: four injuires due to hydroplaning; 10 homes affected; two roads destroyed, six roads with minor damage.
  • Leake: 23 homes damaged; 12 roads damage; levee breach with five homes evacuated
  • Leflore: 10 roads closed due to debris and flooding
  • Lowneds: 10 homes damaged, 15 roads closed due to flooding
  • Washington: 17 homes damaged, one road with major damage
  • Yazoo: 30 homes damaged, 15 roads closed; 12 people displaced

 Resource Requests:

  • Attala: 5,000 sandbags
  • Calhoun: 5,000 sandbags
  • Clay: 3 units of sandbags
  • Greene: Area coordinator, drone
  • Grenada: 5,000 sandbags
  • Hinds: Sandbags, tarps
  • Leake: 5,000 sandbags
  • Rankin: 10,000 sandbags
  • Yazoo: Shelter, 5,000 sandbags, 40 tarps
  • Copiah County EMA, Yazoo County EMA, Smith County EMA and the Florence Fire Department deployed high water rescue vehicles to assist affected flooded counties.

Road Closures:

  • Attala: County EMA reports 5 roads are closed due to flooding
  • Bolivar: MS 448 between Gilbert Rd. and White Oak St.
  • Carroll: CR 31 bridge washed out and CR 272 sink hole
  • Choctaw: 4 roads closed due to flooding
  • Copiah: Hopewell Rd. and Gatesville Rd.
  • Simpson: Hopewell Rd. and Gatesville Rd. on the Copiah/Simpson line
  • Hinds: Following road closures are set to end: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 12:00 AM
    • US 80 ramp to State St. / US 51 Eastbound
    • US 80 ramp to State St. / US 51 Westbound
    • I-20 ramp to State St. EX 45B Westbound
    • I-20 ramp to Gallatin St. / State St. EX 45 Eastbound
    • I-55 ramp to State St. / Gallatin St. EX 92B Northbound
    • I-20 ramp to Gallatin St. EX 45A Westbound
    • I-55 at Savannah St. / Daniel Lake Blvd. EX 90A – Northbound, right lane blocked
      • The entrance ramp from Daniel Lake Blvd. to I-55 Northbound will also be closed.
    • West Frontage Rd. between McDowell Rd. and Daniel Lake both directions
    • East Frontage Rd. between Savannah St. and McDowell Rd. both directions
    • Barricades will remain in place along Frontage Rd. at I-55 with water expected to stand in these areas for the next 2-3 days.
  • Holmes: County EMA reports 2 roads currently closed
  • Jones: MS 184 between Jordan Dr. and Dry Swamp Rd., the bridge at Dry Swamp on Highway 184 has closed due to damage from severe flash flooding
  • Leake: MS 427 at MS 16 closed until Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 8:00 AM
  • Leflore: County EMA reports 5 roads closed due to flooding
  • Pontotoc: 4 roads closed due to flooding
  • Warren: Hwy 80E of Vicksburg near Hwy 27 was washed out and damaged due to flash flooding
  • Washington: Club 17 Rd. from end of blacktop to Jeff Davis Rd., Lowes Rd. east of Beauchamp

Shelters:

  • Hinds: Jackson Police Academy 3000 St. Charles St. Jackson, MS OPEN

The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and monitoring any requests or unmet needs from the county emergency management offices.

The public is encouraged to report damage to homes or businesses to their county emergency management office. A directory of all the offices is online at https://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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