More severe weather could be on the cards for the US state of Mississippi as it recovers from deadly tornadoes that killed 26 people. Hundreds are displaced following the tornadoes that struck the state and neighbouring Alabama on Friday.
It is one of the deadliest that has struck the state in more than a decade.
At least 25 people died in Mississippi. One man died in Alabama after a trailer overturned in the weather. Over 36,000 people are without power as of Monday.
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Unfortunately, Mississippi has potentially more bad weather heading our way — Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves)
Unfortunately, Mississippi has potentially more bad weather heading our way.
Please take caution, check weather alerts, and keep your families safe today.
We’re monitoring the situation and have emergency management prepared to respond as necessary. pic.twitter.com/vQWRyKpsDJ
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 26, 2023
Trees snapped like twigs and uprooted. Trucks overturned into houses. Power lines came down by the tornado.
On Saturday, survivors walked in a daze and in shock reports the BBC. The next day was the opposite, and a flurry of activity.
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Mississippi in a State of Emergency
US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency, and deployed federal resources to aid response efforts in some of the worst-hit regions. Biden also made federal funding available to the affected people in the Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, and Sharkey counties.
In the midst of communities trying to pick up the pieces, there are warning of more severe storms to come.
@weatherchannel JUST IN: Friday night’s tornado that destroyed several Mississippi towns was at least an EF4, according to the National Weather Service. #Mississippi #tornado #MStornado #RollingFork #damage #aftermath #weather #news
Speaking at a news conference, the Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves said:
What we’ve seen, much like the storm that occurred Friday night, is in the 24-36 hours that are leading up to this afternoon, it appears that the risks seem to be getting worse and worse, not better.
The governor says it is “heart-breaking” to see the loss and devastation caused by the tornado reports the BBC:
And when you stand here and see this, what feels like a beautiful weather day in Mississippi, please be aware and please know: if you are south of I-55 in Mississippi today there are significant risks. We are prepared
About one-fifth of the population lives below the poverty line in Rolling Fork. At least 12 deaths occurred in the town where the extent of the damage is hard to comprehend.
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