Emergency Declared as Tornado Wrecks Devastation in Mississippi

As the sun rises on Sunday morning, rescue workers continue to scour the ruins of communities in Mississippi, where a devastating tornado has left a trail of destruction in its wake. At least 26 people have lost their lives, and dozens more are injured, in what is the highest death toll from a tornado in Mississippi in over five decades.

The twister tore through the state’s low-lying Delta region and the north-east portion, leaving entire neighborhoods in shambles. The town of Rolling Fork, with a population of around 2,000, is among the hardest hit. “The community has been destroyed,” said the town’s mayor, Eldridge Walker, as he surveyed the devastation. “Now we’ve got to put the pieces back together again.”

Walker, who is also a local funeral director, has lost friends in the disaster and expected search and rescue operations to conclude Sunday with most community members now accounted for. “It’s devastating, and it’s heart-shaking,” he said. “I extend my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.”

The town’s community hospital lost power during the storm, forcing patients and nursing home residents to be transferred for treatment. Many municipal buildings, including the police station, city hall, and county courthouse, were either completely destroyed or badly damaged.

In nearby Carroll county, three members of the same family – Danny Munford, his wife Helen Munford, and their son JaDarrion Murphy – were killed when winds picked up their mobile home and tore it apart. “We had to cut trees down before we were able to get to them, because trees were down everywhere,” said Dede Duren, Helen Munford’s cousin.

US Congressman Bennie Thompson, who represents the Delta region in Washington, described the devastation as “heart-shaking” and said that many municipal buildings in Rolling Fork had been completely destroyed or badly damaged. “There are a lot of things that are having to be put in place just for people to be able to get back,” he said.

President Joe Biden has declared a federal emergency for the affected areas, unlocking federal funding for temporary housing, repairs, and other programs to help businesses and community members recover financially. “We will do everything we can to help,” Biden said on Twitter. “We will work together to deliver the support you need to recover, for as long as it takes.”

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has thanked Biden for “quickly approving our disaster declaration” and has vowed to rebuild the affected communities. “The spirit of Mississippi is strong and we’re ready to rebuild!” he said.

The region is expected to continue being pummeled by severe weather events throughout the week, with the National Weather Service warning of large hail and the potential for more tornadoes. As the people of Mississippi begin to rebuild, they can take comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their recovery efforts.