Pearl, Miss. – So far at least seven counties are reporting damage and some injuries as a result of severe weather that moved through Mississippi Sunday.  Governor Phil Bryant has decaled a State of Emergency for most of them. 

The most damage appears to be in Forrest County were a long track tornado hit.  The University of Southern Mississippi is reporting damage and has declared a state of emergency on campus. Spokespersons for the university were confident that no one on campus was hurt. 

Several shelters are open in the county and some roads are closed today, along with some schools. 

The Mississippi Highway Patrol was set to send troopers out at 6 a.m. to help Hattiesburg police with emergency response efforts.  The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) also has a light plant in Marion County that can light an area the size of a football filed. 

More damage assessments will begin at sunrise this morning.  But as of now, here are the latest reports from MEMA:

Forrest County

• Numerous homes, businesses and public buildings sustained significant damage.
• Hardy Street is closed from 40th Ave. to U.S. 49 in both directions.
• Sections of Mobile Street, Park Street and Main Street are closed.
• Several roads are closed due to downed trees and power lines.
• Ten injuries have been reported.
• Numerous power outages.

 
A shelter has opened at the Forrest County Community 361 Shelter on U.S. 49 South. Another shelter is open in Petal at the Petal Civic Center 712 South Main Street, Petal. The Ben McNair Recreational Center at 300 North 12th Ave. is open for people who cannot get to another shelter because of road closures.
 
Numerous schools are reporting closings for today.

Lamar County

• Shelter open at Lamar County Multipurpose Center: 99 Central Industrial Rd.; Purvis, Miss.
• Reports of damage in multiple locations, including Oak Grove and the Lake Serene neighborhood.
• Two critical injuries reported. Additional injuries also reported.
• Power outages reported and some power lines down.

 
Lawrence County

• Injuries reported.
• Some damage reported.

 
Marion County

• A few injuries reported.
• Several homes reported destroyed and several reported damaged.

 
Warren County

• Trees down.
• Flooding on multiple streets.

 
Wayne County

• Impacts reported in Clara and Progress communities.

 
Yazoo County

• Trees down.
• Flooding on multiple streets.

The Governor will have a Press Conference at USM later this morning.  News Mississippi’s Chris Davis will be there.  Check back with us for the latest.