Weather Update:
· Severe weather continues to move across the central portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
· The Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of Georgia into the Carolinas.
Georgia Highlights:
· One fatality has been reported and two people have been injured.
· Two emergency shelters are currently open.
· An estimated 80 to 100 structures have been damaged, 20-30 of these structures have sustained major damage.
· The Atrium Health Care facility is currently running on generator power.
· As of this morning, 5,000 customers were without power statewide.
· The State Emergency Operations Center is partially activated.
· On March 26th, the Governor declared a State of Emergency.
Mississippi Update:
· The State is reporting 21 confirmed fatalities and 70 injured. The fatalities are in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, and Sharkey counties.
· Search and rescue activities are still ongoing.
· Two emergency shelters are currently open.
· A preliminary damage assessment has indicated the following:
o 313 structures destroyed
o 212 structures with major damage
o 520 structures with minor damage
o 1,125 structures have been affected
· Healthcare Update:
o The Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital sustained damage and was fully evacuated.
o The Sharkey County Issaquena Nursing Home sustained damage and all patients have been transferred to other facilities.
o The Winona Manor Healthcare and Rehab and Humphreys County Nursing Center are on generator power, full power restoration is expected on March 28th.
· Infrastructure Update:
o A total of 26,000 customers are without power in the affected areas.
o The Rolling Fork public water system is inoperable.
o Six water systems are under restriction, and ten have issued boil water notices.
o There are now six locations accepting donated items. The list of these locations is available here.
· The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is in contact with the school districts affected:
o South Delta School District (Sharkey County): Some schools suffered roof damage and schools are closed until further notice.
o Amory School District (Monroe County): The high school suffered roof damage and schools are closed through March 31st.
o Carroll County School District: No damage reported but schools are closed until March 28th.
o Winona School District (Montgomery County): No damage to schools and schools were closed today.
o New Albany School District (Union County): Some structural damage to schools but they reopened today.
o Humphreys County School District: No damage to schools and they reopened today.
· Federal Update:
o Federal Emergency Support Functions 3, 8 and 14 have been deployed to the State EOC.
o The Thomasville Mobile Emergency Response Systems has been deployed to Jackson, MS.
o A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team has been requested.
Sources:
· FEMA Daily Operation Briefing, March 27
· Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Twitter Page
· Georgia Emergency Management Agency Twitter Page
· FEMA Twitter Page
Resources
Secretary Mayorkas, FEMA Administrator Criswell Visit Devastated Areas of Mississippi (New)
Mississippi Self-Reporting Links by Counties Website
FEMA, Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes: DR-4697-MS