LAMAR COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) – Emergency management officials in the Pine Belt are warning neighbors to be prepared for severe weather on Wednesday, April 10.

James Smith, director of Lamar County Emergency Management, expects flooding in areas near creeks and rivers due to heavy rain.

Before the storm, neighbors are encouraged to pack an emergency kit, as well as checking on elderly neighbors and pets.

Smith urged residents to stay aware of weather alerts and to take warnings seriously.

“That’s going to be a bad day for somebody. We don’t go under that moderate risk too often, maybe about once a year or so, and every time we have so far, somebody within the surrounding area has got hit by a tornado. And we hate to see that. We don’t want to see that for sure. We want people to be aware of what’s going on, aware of the situation and just monitor the situation closely. Something could happen, a projectile could get thrown at you. Debris, glass, anything like that could get thrown at you. So, definitely don’t watch a tornado-high wind at all. The safest place to be is in the interior room in your house,” said Smith.

Shelters will be open at the 361 Community Shelter in Purvis and the Safe Room on Sullivan Drive in Hattiesburg.