On Friday night, multiple devastating tornadoes struck Mississippi, leaving 26 people dead, dozens injured and thousands of homes damaged. According to Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, four people are still missing and numerous search and rescue teams are still working to locate them. The tornado had winds of up to 70 mph and moved through rural towns like Rolling Fork and Silver City, reducing houses to piles of rubble, flipping cars and tearing branches of trees.
President Biden declared a state of emergency in Mississippi and activated Federal funds to the four hardest-hit counties : Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is expected to visit the State soon.
The National Weather Service issued a preliminary EF-4 rating for the tornado and is warning of more severe weather in parts of Louisiana, South Central Mississippi and South Central Alabama. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has urged private citizens not to go out to help and has asked that donations of water and other resources be sent to the Rolling Fork Civic Center.
Mayor Eldridge Walker of Rolling Fork said, "My City is gone, but we are resilient and we are going to come back strong." The magnitude of this disaster has left the Mississippi State in shock, and yet the people remain united and determined to rise from the ashes.