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Mississippi tornadoes: Deaths, damage, school closures, counties affected & how to help

Mona Moore
·3 min read
Rogelio V. Solis/AP

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported 21 tornado-related fatalities from over the weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know abut Rolling Fork and other Mississippi Delta cities that were affected by the severe weather, plus how to help from the Mississippi Coast.

Counties with fatalities

County residential homes, public roads and buildings

MEMA encouraged residents to report their damage using their Self-Report Tool. The agency’s preliminary reports of affected households span seven counties. These counties reported damage to homes ranging from “affected” to “destroyed.”

  • Carroll County: 24 homes, 3 public roads

  • Humphreys County: 55 homes

  • Monroe County: 1,476 homes, 29 public roads, 3 utilities

  • Montgomery County: 49 homes, 4 public roads, 1 public office building

  • Grenada County: 1 home

  • Prentiss County: 1 home

  • Panola County: 15 homes, 12 public roads

Schools affected by tornadoes

According to the Mississippi Department of Education, schools were closed in three districts.

South Delta School District (Sharkey County)

  • Buildings: The district superintendent reported Sunday that school buildings were not destroyed but sustained roof damage.

  • Schools are closed until further notice.

Amory School District (Monroe County)

  • Buildings: High school roof sustained damage. A structural engineer will assess the building to determine if it is safe to occupy.

  • Schools closed at least through Friday, March 31.

Carroll County School District

  • Buildings: No damage to schools.

  • Schools closed at least through Tuesday, March 28.

Winona School District (Montgomery County)

  • Buildings: No damage to schools.

  • Schools were closed Monday and the district will assess when to reopen daily.

New Albany School District (Union County)

  • Buildings: Some structural damage.

  • Schools opened Monday.

Humphreys County School District

  • Buildings: No damage to schools.

  • Schools opened Monday.

The Department of Mental Health is reporting one group home in Rolling Fork operated by the Region 6 Community Mental Health Center, Life Help, is reported to be spared from damage but the staff is working on placing the 14 clients living there in other residential programs.

How to help

On the Coast, Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop K, at 16741 Highway 67, Biloxi, will accept donations for tornado victims Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The City of Gulfport collected 600 cases of water to be delivered to the Delta on Tuesday.

The Rolling Fork National Guard/Civic Center is open and accepting donations.

The Department of Public Safety, MEMA, and The Department of Agriculture have teamed together to accept donations of bottled water, canned goods and paper products.

Donations:

Needed Items:

  • Non-perishable food

  • Sunblock

  • Feminine products

  • Baby wipes

  • Cleaning supplies

  • Paper products: toilet paper, tissues, plates

  • Plastic cutlery

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

Volunteers:

Volunteer efforts are being coordinated through Volunteer Mississippi. Individuals and groups interested in volunteering should contact Volunteer Mississippi at volunteermississippi.org, info@volunteermississippi.org or 601-432-6779.

Volunteers are needed at the following locations.

  • Humphrey’s County Emergency Management Agency16735 US Highway 49Belzoni, MS

  • Crossway Church1825 Hwy 61 SouthVicksburg, MS 39180

  • Mississippi Fairgrounds1207 Mississippi StreetJackson, MS 39202

  • Old Amory Garment902 Main Street SouthAmory, MS

  • Amory Regional Museum801 3rd Street South Amory, MS

  • Carroll-County-Old Vaiden High School Gym504 MulberryVaiden, MS 39176