Thousands in Mississippi Still Without Power Weeks After Winter Storm Hits

Mississippi continues to face significant challenges as thousands remain without power weeks after a devastating winter storm hit the region. The storm, which swept through the northern part of the state, resulted in extensive damages, including downed trees and power lines, and claimed at least 29 lives.

Power Outages Persist in Mississippi

As of Saturday afternoon, approximately 15,000 customers in Mississippi, particularly around Lafayette County and the town of Oxford, were still without electricity. This is a considerable reduction from the storm’s peak impact, which initially left around 280,000 people without power.

Challenges in Restoration Efforts

• The storm’s aftermath has predominantly affected rural areas.
• Obstacles include significant debris and downed power lines.
• A cleanup process is expected to last for several months.

Beau Moore, an emergency management officer in Lafayette County, compared the storm’s destructive impact to an EF1 or EF2 tornado striking a vast area simultaneously. He anticipated that thousands would remain powerless for at least another week.

Local Leadership and Community Response

Oxford’s Mayor, Robyn Tannehill, shared updates on the city’s recovery efforts through her Facebook account. She indicated that despite progress, there remains a substantial way to go before full recovery. The city is concentrating on removing brush and debris from streets, especially as students return to the University of Mississippi.

Government Support for Recovery

On Friday, President Trump announced that he would approve a major disaster declaration requested by Governor Tate Reeves. This declaration will allocate $39 million to assist local governments in their cleanup and recovery efforts.

Utility Providers Making Progress

The North East Mississippi Electric Power Association reported that the storm initially disrupted service to roughly 28,000 out of 30,000 customers in the area. Thanks to ongoing repairs, the number of affected customers has decreased to about 4,200.

Sarah Brooke Bishop, a spokesperson for the utility, noted that restoration required crews to cut through obstacles to establish access. While it is challenging to provide a definitive timeline for complete service restoration, favorable weather conditions may accelerate recovery efforts.