A member of a Franklin County road crew was killed while assisting with storm cleanup, state officials said, marking the first reported death as severe weather and flooding strike Mississippi.
Officials, including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, said in a Facebook post that they are coordinating response efforts with local emergency managers and deploying resources as requested.
The Department of Environmental Quality is monitoring the dam at Anchor Lake in Pearl River County. According to MDEQ, the system is functioning as designed with water flowing through the primary and auxiliary spillways, but there is very little storage capacity remaining and additional precipitation could quickly overwhelm the spillways and compromise the structure. MDEQ’s dam safety director is en route and remains in communication with local officials, the post said.
Pearl River County officials are notifying homes in the potential inundation area, and about 30 homes are being evacuated as a precaution. Residents near the East Hobolochitto Creek basin, particularly those east of Interstate 59 between East Boley Road and West Union Road, were urged to move to higher ground and remain alert for changing conditions.
Water rescues have taken place in Harrison County, and multiple roads remain closed in George, Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River and Stone counties, the post said. The post also asked for prayers for the family of the deceased worker and for road crews, first responders and emergency managers working in dangerous conditions. MDEQ oversees dam safety and flood management in the state.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
