Share and Follow
On Wednesday night, a series of tornadoes swept through central and western Mississippi, causing significant destruction. The violent storms tore roofs off buildings and left residents stranded, with many roads rendered impassable due to flooding.
Mattie Powell, the director of Wilkinson County’s Emergency Management Agency, reported to WLBT that numerous individuals were trapped in the Garden City and Perrytown areas. The situation was particularly dire as emergency responders struggled to reach those in need.
Among those affected were two people attempting to escape the storm when a fallen tree blocked their path. Additionally, a family became trapped near Oak Grove Church, unable to leave their home.
“Residents have reported that trees surround their home, leaving them without power and with no means of escape,” Powell explained.
In neighboring Franklin County, another family found themselves trapped inside their residence. Efforts to reach them were hampered by the numerous downed trees in the vicinity, as reported by The Natchez Democrat. First responders faced significant challenges in navigating the debris-laden area.
‘As soon as we can get there, we will be there to help in any way we can,’ Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said as a tornado watch remains in effect in his county until 11pm.
Across Franklin and Lincoln counties, 815 homes were affected by the severe weather, according to Mississippi Emergency Response Management.
In total, more than 20,000 people were without power in Mississippi on Wednesday night, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages across the nation.
‘The state of Mississippi is in contact with local emergency managers and first responders,’ Governor Tate Reeves posted on social media, asking the public to ‘pray for Mississippi.’
Downed trees were hindering emergency response after a series of tornadoes struck down in central and western Mississippi on Wednesday
The Carthage Police Department also shared photos of flooding and fallen trees in Leake County following the tornado on Wednesday
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves asked the public to pray for his state
The Wash Mobile Home Park in Bogue Chitto was also reporting heavy damage, with some of the homes completely flattened.
‘I was just watching TikTok on my bed and thought it was thunder,’ resident Max Mahaffey told WAPT. ‘I went to my living room. I went back to my room – and the room’s gone.’
Mahaffey said he was not injured in the storm, but his grandmother hurt her ankle.
He also said some of his neighbors suffered cuts and bruises, while others may have broken bones.
Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office in Lamar County said it was receiving initial reports of roofs damaged to Industrial Park, while the Carthage Police Department shared photos of flooding and fallen trees in Leake County, according to WAPT.
Volunteer firefighters are now reportedly en route from other counties to help with the storm response.
But schools in Franklin County have already been canceled for Thursday, as much of the area remains without lights and water.
Residents across the state were trapped inside their homes due to the downed trees and flooded roads
First responders are pictured trying to clear a road in Natchez, Mississippi Wednesday night
The National Weather Service in Jackson had originally issued a tornado emergency for Bude, Meadville, McCall Creek, Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto after a confirmed tornado was spotted near Meadville at around 7.09pm, moving east at 50mph.
‘This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!’ the weather service warned.
It later issued another warning for northeastern Lincoln County, Lawrence County and western Jefferson Davis County, after a confirmed large tornado was reported near Brookhaven just before 8pm, moving east at 35mph.
Forecasters urged anyone in the path of the storm to move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
Those in mobile homes, vehicles or outside were also told to move to the nearest substantial shelter.
The National Weather Service has also warned that strong to severe storms were expected to continue overnight across the Southeast, with the strongest storms capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, large hail and flash flooding.
As the warning remains in effect, residents were asked to stay off the roads and continue sheltering in place.