On Saturday evening, a tree fell into a house in the city of Natchez due to heavy storms. The terrible incident left one dead, an 18-year-old, and two more injured. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency indicated the accident occurred on West Wood Road, when emergency teams responded around 6:45 p.m.
It showed Adams County EMA Director Brad Bradford confirming that first responders from local authorities made it to the rescue; according to Adams County Coroner James Lee, among the dead was Tykeria Rogers, while other persons injured were not named so far.
Tornadoes and warnings across Mississippi
The NWS had issued numerous warnings for Central Mississippi as the severe storm, including tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail, swept the region. There were unconfirmed reports of winds with speeds up to 80 mph and hail the size of golf balls. Also, the risk of such storms was also extended for areas like Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Laurel, although the alerts were in force until early Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes near Gluckstadt, Crystal Springs, and Pelahatchie, as radar data and eyewitness accounts showed their existence. Power outages also contributed to the chaos, as more than 40,000 customers lost power across the state.
Critical Timeline of Tornado Activity
Tornado warnings were issued throughout the evening as storms intensified: Throughout the evening, several tornado warnings were issued as the storms intensified. At 6:30 p.m., warnings were issued for Northeastern Yazoo, Hinds, Madison, and parts of Rankin County, indicating the possibility of hazardous weather.
At 6:51 p.m., a tornado was spotted near Gluckstadt, heading east at 45 mph. By 7:23 p.m., the National Weather Service said there was another tornado near Pelahatchie, this one moving northeast at 55 mph, further showcasing how grave the situation was.
These storms brought with them serious threats of flying debris and structure damages, hence urgent warnings were issued for shelter.
Extensive Impact and Ongoing Precautions
Among areas most in the path of these storms were Jackson, Pearl, and Brandon, for which advisories had been issued on. The NWS encouraged everybody to take immediate safety precautions, especially people who lived in mobile homes or vehicles due to the high vulnerability.
The chaotic weather underlined the unpredictability of serious storms that left behind a community with loss to be dealt with and reconstruction. Authorities in Mississippi, therefore, with continued threats from extreme weather, stress preparation and vigilance to cut down future tragedies.
