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Tornadoes ripped through central and western Mississippi on Wednesday (May 6), damaging about 400 homes and injuring at least 17 people, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Fourteen tornadoes were confirmed statewide, with the worst impacts in Lincoln and Lamar counties.
In Lamar County, officials reported approximately 275 homes damaged. Four people were injured—one seriously enough to require hospitalization. In Lincoln County, more than 200 homes were damaged, and 12 people were hurt, all living in the Wash Trailer Park.
Governor Tate Reeves announced that the Cajun Navy is deploying a 50-person shelter pod, a generator, and several pallets of supplies to Lincoln County to assist with recovery efforts. Authorities are urging residents to avoid traveling in affected areas to allow emergency crews to work safely, especially as downed trees and power lines have blocked roads and created dangerous conditions.
The storm system also struck Lawrence County, damaging up to a dozen homes, and one person was injured in Franklin County. No fatalities have been reported so far, but officials caution that damage figures are still preliminary and could change as teams continue their assessments.
Widespread power outages have left more than 15,000 customers without electricity across Mississippi, especially in Lincoln and Franklin counties. Several school districts in Lawrence, Franklin, and Lincoln counties have closed due to damage and safety concerns.
Although the storms have weakened, the system is moving east toward the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia, where a tornado watch remains in effect until 10 a.m. ET. Flash flooding has been reported in areas such as Montgomery, Alabama, and more rain is expected along the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic through Friday (May 8).