Ellington

2:45 p.m.—(JACKSON, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Friday's storm and tornadoes.

"The amount of damage caused by the tornadoes and severe weather is devastating and widespread," Governor Barbour said. "By issuing this State of Emergency, we are providing a relief measure at the state level which helps ensure affected residents have necessary supplies available to them, and that emergency responders will have the authority to provide these services to storm victims in an expedient manner."

The full text of the Governor's State of Emergency is listed below.

WHEREAS, areas of the State of Mississippi were affected by
severe weather and tornadoes on April 4, 2008 in Hinds, Lauderdale,
Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Smith, Rankin, Tippah, Warren
and Yazoo counties, and other affected counties in the State of
Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, this storm system caused damage to homes, businesses,
public property, and threatened the safety of the citizens and property
throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the health and safety of the
residents and the protection of their property within the affected
areas, and in the public interest, all steps should be taken to protect
people and property;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, Governor of the State of
Mississippi, pursuant to the authority vested in me under the
Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Section 33-15-11-(b) (17),
Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, and in the public interest and for
the general welfare, do hereby proclaim a State of Emergency to exist in
the areas of the State of Mississippi affected by this severe weather
system. The provisions of this proclamation shall exist and remain in
effect until such time as this threat to public safety shall cease to
exist as prescribed in Section 33-15-11(b)(17), Mississippi Code of
1972, as amended.

FURTHER, all agencies of the State of Mississippi shall
discharge their emergency responsibilities as deemed necessary as set
forth in the Executive Order No. 653, dated November 16, 1990 and the
State of Mississippi's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

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Previous Comments

ID

99868

Comment

What a storm! It was as if Katrina came back with a vengeance. I work off of Highland Colony Parkway and we had to go into the hallway when the tornado was close by. Thankfully, there was no damage done. I'm also thankful my home wasn't damaged. In fact, I didn't even lose power.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-07T19:20:40-06:00

ID

99869

Comment

My bank teller has had to stay at her mom's - as of today she still did not have power. Glad the governor is doing this as we need to help people get past this as quickly as we can.

Author

Izzy

Date

2008-04-07T19:22:34-06:00

ID

99870

Comment

I'm thankful that we did not lose power. I lost my internet connection for about a day. My brother and I were in the hallway, me holding the dog. I think the cat was under the bed or something. Anyway, my mom was away from home when the storm hit. She said that it came through when she pulled into the parking lot of a bank. The wind was blowing so hard that it felt like her car was about to be lifted off the ground, and every time she opened the door, it slammed shut. She got strength from somewhere and shoved the door open, jumped out and took cover in the bank. Everyone in the bank waited in the vault until the storm passed. Thank God she didn't get hurt.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-04-07T20:33:26-06:00

ID

99871

Comment

I work off Highland Colony too, golden eagle. But thankfully I wasn't at work on Friday. I was huddled up with one of my children in Clinton. We had just headed up to the school and given our daughter her injection when they called for the kids to hit the halls. Since I had her emergency supplies, I stayed with her class while my better half wandered the halls and helped out wherever he could. So, I spent the time in the dark with one teacher and 26 crazy children. :) We didn't lose power at home, but the school lost it for the rest of the day. You can really see and appreciate the path of destruction while driving down County Line Road. There are a lot of trees down between Livingston and Highland Colony.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2008-04-08T07:33:35-06:00

ID

99872

Comment

I usually drive down County Line Rd. to get to home and work, but after I left work Friday, County Line was blocked off by the police at Watkins Dr. There was a tree down on Watkins as well, so I ended up turning around and driving down I-220. BTW, where off of HCP do you work. I'm in the 220 Business Park.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-08T10:09:01-06:00

ID

99873

Comment

Lady Havoc's right near you then. :) I take her to work each morning up there.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-04-08T10:18:30-06:00

ID

99874

Comment

Yup. Another 220 Business Park person here. Yesterday, as we came in, Watkins was still closed off: but County Line was free and clear.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2008-04-08T10:47:52-06:00

ID

99875

Comment

Which end of HCP is 220 Business Park on? My wife works on HCP north of the Renaissance and drives the Trace from Clinton to HCP instead of County Line or I220. Less traffic and usually makes it home sooner than using either two routes.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-04-08T13:22:39-06:00

ID

99876

Comment

220 Business Park is on the County Line end of HCP: it's two intersections up from the intersection of County Line and HCP. Where your wife works, the Trace would be the best option, IMHO. We always end up coming Cynthia or Kickapoo to County Line: much less traffic in the mornings, and I don't get to work frazzled from the interstate.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2008-04-08T13:57:50-06:00

ID

99877

Comment

I saw a lot of the down trees, too, on County Line. Are there a lot of trees down on the Trace? I haven't traveled it since the storm.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-08T15:36:01-06:00

ID

99878

Comment

I haven't been down the Trace since the storm, my wife hasn't mention any trees being down. The right of way is so wide on each side of the Trace I doubt any would have been in the road if they did fall.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-04-08T15:40:45-06:00

ID

99879

Comment

You're right. Just like during Katrina, most of the downed trees were so far off the road to affect travel. But I'm sure there would still be a lot of trees down. That just gave me an idea to ride down that way to check it out. BTW, 7,000 still without power in Jackson.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-08T16:06:44-06:00

ID

99880

Comment

You'll have to let us know. The Trace is a bit out of our way: when we come from Clinton via the Trace, we still have to get on that evil Interstate to get to HCP. So I prefer to avoid it unless we're going shopping in Ridgeland. The kids call it the Deer Road. :D

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2008-04-08T16:56:37-06:00

ID

99881

Comment

Wife said she saw no trees down on the Trace, but she does tend to have tunnel vision when driving and can miss seeing something that has been in the same place on the side of the road for years.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-04-08T17:43:36-06:00

ID

99882

Comment

The worst I've seen is Beasly/Adkins road between Ridgewood and Old Canton - sheesh, it's a disaster zone, the tornado must have cut right through there

Author

Izzy

Date

2008-04-09T07:32:00-06:00