A severe thunderstorm battered parts of north Mississippi late Sunday into early Monday. Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson and the DeSoto County Board of Aldermen met shortly after midnight Monday morning to declare a state of emergency for the area in the storm’s aftermath.
According to Johnson, the severe weather brought high winds and heavy rain, downing trees, blocking roads, and damaging power lines. Around 7,700 homes reportedly lost power in the area.
The declaration mobilized the county’s emergency management crews and opened resource valves that will aid in recovery efforts. Damage assessments are ongoing.
“Our crews have worked through the night clearing roads. There is much work to be done and we will cleaning up this mess for days to come,” Mayor Johnson said Monday morning in a social media post. “I know many of us are without power… We have many broken poles and restoration of power will not be as fast as we would like. Please be patient and check on your neighbors and offer help where you can.”
Under direction of local emergency management officials, DeSoto County Schools are closed Monday as recovery efforts continue.
