PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is asking residents to prepare for severe weather this afternoon and evening. According to the National Weather Service, an approaching cold front will bring the possibility of strong tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding.
The latest NWS forecast calls for the threat of severe weather moving into the state around 4 p.m. and continuing through the night. The greatest risk of severe weather appears to be north of Interstate 20, but all areas of Mississippi face the threat of severe weather.
“The National Weather Service has forecast a very strong storm system, which could bring most forms of severe weather to Mississippi,” said MEMA Director Robert Latham. “We are taking the necessary steps to position assets to support local governments if needed. Ultimately, it is what citizens and their families do to prepare for severe weather that saves lives.”
MEMA and the NWS also recommend you take the following steps:
- Have a family emergency plan.
- Residents in mobile homes or manufactured housing should have a safe place to wait out the severe weather.
- When riding in a vehicle, never attempt to outrun a tornado. You should abandon the vehicle and get into a nearby ditch or sturdy structure.
- Check and restock your emergency supply kit in case you are without electricity for an extended period of time.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
