The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is assessing damage caused by severe storms and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, which struck the state last week. As of Friday afternoon, 486 homes across 10 counties had reported damage, and officials said numbers are expected to rise as assessments continue.
Counties affected include Covington, Franklin, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Rankin, Stone, and Wilkinson. In Covington County, five homes, one business, and 10 roads were affected. Franklin County reported one fatality. George County has a home, seven roads, and one bridge impacted. Hancock County experienced 29 homes, three farms, five roads, and one bridge damaged. Harrison County saw the highest number of damaged homes, with 274, along with five businesses and eight roads.
Jackson County reported 12 homes damaged, while Pearl River County had 41 homes and one business affected. Rankin County reported two homes damaged, and Stone County had 121 homes and 34 roads impacted. Wilkinson County experienced minor damage to one home and one road. Damage levels range from affected to destroyed, with 116 homes destroyed, 134 suffering major damage, and 147 sustaining minor damage, according to MEMA.
Additional assessments are ongoing in Forrest, Greene, Lawrence, and Walthall counties. MEMA urges residents with property damage to file insurance claims, take photos, and report damages through a digital self-report tool. Immediate needs can be reported to county emergency agencies, whose contact information is available on MEMA’s website.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
