Multiple tornadoes swept through Mississippi over the weekend, killing one and injuring nearly two dozen, officials said.
State emergency workers were still working with counties Monday morning to assess the damage from storms in which high temperatures and hail in some areas accompanied tornadoes. The death and injuries were reported by officials in east Mississippi’s Jasper County. In a Monday morning news release, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said more than 49,000 homes in central Mississippi were without power.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the tornadoes struck in Jasper County and Rankin County, which borders the capital city of Jackson. Emergency crews were doing search and rescue missions and damage assessments, deploying drones in some areas because they were impossible to reach by vehicle due to downed power lines.
Tens of thousands of people in Hinds County were still without power Monday morning after high winds pummeled the state early Friday.
On the coast, a tornado caused heavy damage to commercial buildings, a church and homes. Eight people were trapped in the Merchants Marine Bank and later rescued, the Biloxi Sun Herald reported. Residents said the destruction is the worst they have since since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Reeves said the state is opening command centers and shelters for those displaced by the severe weather.
Photo: A tree that was blown down on Friday at the Mississippi Capitol. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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