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Nearly 2,000 Mississippi homes damaged by tornadoes

By Kaitlin Howell Mar 29, 2023 | 11:33 AM

SHARKEY COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) continues to assess the damage in multiple counties affected by the March 24 tornadoes and severe weather.  

Residents in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance by going online to disasterassistance.gov or calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), disaster number DR-4697.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams will go door-to-door in neighborhoods throughout Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties to help residents who want to apply for FEMA.

Residents in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Attala, Chickasaw, Clay, Grenada, Holmes, Issaquena, Itawamba, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Sunflower, Washington and Yazoo in Mississippi. The SBA is opening a Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC) in Sharkey County on Wednesday, March 29.  

The location is: 

  • South Delta High School – 303 Parkway St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159
  • The hours are Monday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17836 or call 800-659-2955. 

MEMA also provided an update on the preliminary damage reports. These counties reported some damage to homes ranging from affected to destroyed.  

County  Residential Homes 
Bolivar Carroll  9 homes
Carroll 24 homes
Humphreys 55 homes
Itawamba 1 home
Lafayette 2 homes
Lee 10 homes
Monroe  1,476 homes 
Montgomery  49 homes 
Grenada  1 home 
Prentiss  1 home 
Panola Sharkey  31 homes
Sharkey 255 homes

MEMA is encouraging residents who can to report their damage using MEMA’s Self-Report Tool.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) conducted flight surveys on March 27 to estimate the damage to forestlands in the state. The areas affected totaled approximately 8,796 acres, of which 5,259 were forested acres on non-industrial private forest lands.

The potential economic impact on private forested acres is estimated at $8,029,934. 

Landowners seeking advice or programs to assist with recovery can contact their local MFC forester at mfc.ms.gov/contact.

Community Services: 

  • South Delta High School 303 Parkway Street, Rolling Fork, MS, has hot showers and restrooms open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  
  • Drop off Laundry Services are available at South Delta High School. Drop off between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and pick up the next day. 

Shelter Locations:  

  • South Delta Middle School, 86 Middle School Road, Anguilla, MS 
  • The Old Amory National Guard Building: 101 South 9th Street, Amory 

Clinic Locations open in Rolling Fork:

  • Complete Care, 25 S 4th Street, Rolling Fork MS 39159 
  • Sharkey Issaquena Medical Clinic, 283 Race Street, Rolling Fork, MS 39159 
  • Pain Treatments Center of America and Family Medicine, 29 S 4th Street, Rolling Fork, MS             

Free Tetanus Vaccinations Available:

  • Monroe County Health Department, 1300 HWY 125 S, Amory, MS 
  • Sharkey-Issaquena County Health Department, 297 Race St., Rolling Fork, MS 
  • The sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and remain open until April 3.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is in contact with the six school districts affected by the March 24 tornado.

South Delta School District (Sharkey County)    

  • A cafeteria staff member is among the fatalities reported in the storm. 
  • Schools closed until further notice.    
  • Surrounding districts are contacting the South Delta School District superintendent offering to receive the South Delta students for continued instruction.  

Amory School District (Monroe County)    

  • No student or staff fatalities.  
  • District has been in contact with MDE while considering virtual learning options if roads are not cleared once power is back.   
  • Schools closed at least through 3/31/23.    

Carroll County School District     

  • 1 teacher fatality and 1 student fatality.  
  • Buildings: No damage to schools.    
  • Power: Restoration timeline is unknown.    
  • Schools resumed classes on 3/28/23.   

Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District (Montgomery County)    

  • No student or staff fatalities.   
  • Buildings: No damage to schools.    
  • Schools will resume classes on 3/30/23     

New Albany School District (Union County)    

  • No student or staff fatalities.   
  • Buildings: Minimal damage to sportsplex;     
  • Schools are open. 

Humphreys County School District     

  • 1 teacher fatality.  
  • Buildings: No damage to schools.    
  • Schools are open

All school districts have 10 weather days they do not need to make up.

Donations: 

Location  Address  Point of Contact  Hours of Operation 
Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency  106 East Street Silver City, MS  Tamekia Jones 662-836-8347  8:00a- 6:00p 
 Crossway Church  1825 Hwy 61 South  Vicksburg, MS 39180  Mike Marshall 601-218-8627  8:00a -4:30p  
Mississippi Fairgrounds  1207 Mississippi Street  Jackson, MS 39202  MHP Troop C 601-420-6342   9:00a-3:00p 
 MHP Patrol Troop K  16741 Highway 67, Biloxi, MS  228-534-8619  9a-3p (March 28 -March 30)  
 MHP Patrol Troop F  1103 Bratton Road, New Albany, MS  662-534-8619  9a-3p (March 28 -March 30)  
 Old Amory Garment  902 Main Street South Amory, MS  Patty Parker 662-257-2474   8:00a – 6:30p 
Amory Regional Museum  801 3rd Street South Amory, MS  Wayne Knox 662-315-1849, 662-256-276  9:00a- 6:30p 
Carroll-County-Old Vaiden High School Gym  504 Mulberry  Vaiden, MS 39176  Stella Bell 662-897-0511  10:00a – 4:00p  

Needed Items: 

  • Non-perishable food 
  • Can openers 
  • Sunblock 
  • Baby wipes 
  • Cleaning supplies 
  • Paper products: toilet paper, tissues, plates 
  • Plastic cutlery 
  • Storage Bins 
  • Gatorade 
  • Sports drinks 
  • Hygiene products 
  • Women’s hygiene products 
  • Do NOT need clothing donations 

Monetary Donations can be made to the American Red Cross or  Salvation Army

Water Delivery Sites: 

  • Carroll County Emergency Operations Center, 20480 MS HWY 35, McCarley, MS 38943 
  • Montgomery County: Winona Coliseum, 200 Recreational Drive, Winona, MS