Jackson Jambalaya

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issue the following statement. 

Due to the potentially dangerous road conditions and Mississippi Department of Transportation crews working to remove ice from the roadways, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division will be diverting traffic from Interstate-55 Northbound Exit 243 (Batesville) to the Tennessee state line and from Interstate-22 Westbound Exit 21 (Red Banks) to the Tennessee state line. For Eastbound traffic on Interstate-22/U.S. Highway 78, it will be closed at Exit 1 (Craft Road). If you travel through these areas or bypass barricades in place, you do so at your own risk.
On Thursday, January 29th, at 8:00 a.m., the right lane of the Northbound side of Interstate-55 will be open for travel. 
MDOT crews will continue to work to clear Interstate-22 and the left lane of Interstate-55 through the day tomorrow. 
Motorists are urged to only travel if necessary and to use extreme caution when driving.
We will continue to provide updates as necessary as conditions continue to improve. 

Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement.

Governor Tate Reeves today announced that the state of Mississippi continues to work with county, state, federal, and private sector partners to respond to the severe winter weather impacting the state. Tragically, six additional deaths have been reported since yesterday’s press release – one in Adams County, one in Jefferson County, one in Warren County, and three in Tate County. This brings the total to 10 statewide. 14 injuries have also been confirmed.

Governor Tate Reeves, as well as Mississippi National Guard (MSNG), the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and FEMA leadership traveled to northern Mississippi to visit impacted communities. Governor Reeves received a briefing from the Mississippi National Guard at Camp McCain in Grenada, and met with medical professionals at Tippah County Hospital and staff at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Tippah County. Camp McCain is a launching point for supplies, generators, fuel, cots, blankets and food to areas still hard to reach by the icy conditions. Rest Haven Nursing Home is utilizing a generator deployed by the state of Mississippi.

Counties continue to conduct damage assessments. MEMA has received reports of 208 homes, 5 businesses, and 7 farms damaged or destroyed statewide. Additionally, 20 public roads have sustained major damage and 12 have been destroyed. Those numbers are expected to rise as damage assessments continue. 

The MSNG has already deployed 500 Soldiers to assist in logistical support and route/debris clearance in affected counties. Additionally, the MSNG has deployed aviation assets to support movement of personnel and equipment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assisting in generator installation.

Ice is still reported on roads and bridges in 23 counties. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has deployed nearly 600 maintenance employees, and dozens of salt trucks and snowplows from southern Mississippi to the northern part of the state. MDOT has over 120 snowplows deployed in north Mississippi and the Delta, and is working to clear over 15,000 lane miles and 3,000 bridges. MDOT has shifted most of its focus to clearing the two major impacted interstates, I-55 and I-22. MDOT deployed motor graders and snowplows, dumping salt after ice breaking attempts. Crews faced challenges clearing ice off the roads. These challenges were a result of stopped traffic due to slowdowns from vehicles on the interstate. Because of these slowdowns, MDOT and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) made the decision to close I-55 for northbound traffic from Batesville to Senatobia, and all lanes of I-22 from the Tennessee state line to Red Banks, in both directions. Additional closures may be announced by MDOT and DPS.

Throughout Thursday, MDOT crews will continue to focus on opening all lanes of I-55 and I-22. Drivers are encouraged to remain off any open interstate in northern Mississippi unless it is an emergency. This will allow MDOT crews to work uninterrupted. Further traffic disruptions due to unnecessary travel will delay road treatment efforts. For more information on road conditions, go to MDOTtraffic | Powered by MDOT. 

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is deploying and standing up a Medical Needs Shelter and Shelter Strike Team with equipment and supplies. Additionally, MSDH is deploying 3 ambulances with 6 personnel to provide emergency medical services to Yalobusha County.

Power restoration efforts continue with approximately 106,100 outages reported statewide. This is down from a high of approximately 180,000.

MEMA continues to fill requests from 40 different counties for generators, fuel, tarps, MREs, bottled water, cots, and blankets.