Six Columbus and Lowndes County families were evacuated from their homes Monday as a severe storm front swept across the state, causing power outages, damage and a death in Copiah County.
The storm front, which hit the Golden Triangle about midday, quickly downed numerous trees and caused several flash floods, said Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence. Hail was also reported in Columbus and other parts of North Mississippi.
Of the six homes that were evacuated, five were in Lowndes County and one was in Columbus, she said. Several other homes and businesses reportedly took water, although no one else was evacuated.
The Fairlanes Shopping Center and the Columbus Lanes, among others, have both reported damage from flooding, said Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box. The extent of the damage was unclear early today.
The flooding also closed about 75 streets in the city and county, Lawrence said.
The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter for displaced residents in Columbus at Wesley United Methodist Church, 511 Airline Road. Only one resident used the facility Monday night, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Megan Burkes. The Red Cross planned to close the shelter at 5 p.m. Tuesday, although displaced families can still get assistance by calling the organization at 662-328-5710.
Downed trees began causing sporadic power outages through early this morning, although fewer than 500 customers were affected, said Columbus Light and Water General Manager Todd Gale.
Just under 2,000 4-County Electric Power Association customers lost power Monday and early Tuesday, with two of the biggest outages in Lowndes County, said spokesman Jon Turner.
In New Hope, he continued, 873 customers were without power for half an hour at about 6:30 p.m.. Monday. In the Golden Triangle Regional Airport area, 207 customers were without power for an hour at about 4 a.m.
West Point, Oktibbeha County, and Noxubee County schools in Mississippi, and Lamar and Pickens County, Ala., schools dismissed students early Monday ahead of the storm. Other districts canceled after-school activities.
In Copiah County, the emergency management agency told The Clarion-Ledger that a driver was killed late Monday after a falling tree struck his vehicle in the Hopewell community. The victim”s name has not been released.
No other injuries have been reported.
In Jackson, an oak tree smashed the roof of an apartment building, where some power lines were also down.
Emergency management officials in Rankin County reported that several trees were downed in the southern part of the county, including the Puckett and Cato area.
In Crystal Springs, a tree reportedly fell on a house.
Several trees were also down in the Crystal Springs, Hopewell and Wesson areas.
Strong wind also reportedly knocked down trees in Lee County.
In Alabama, authorities said trees were down in Madison and Limestone counties, and utility lines were down in Lawrence County.
A tornado watch remained in effect until 6 p.m. Monday for Golden Triangle and other Mississippi counties. Flash flood warnings and wind advisories were also issued as the line of storms moved through.
Meteorologist Dan Byrd in Jackson said damaging winds and large hail accompanied the storm system moving through the state.
In Tunica County, a severe thunderstorm uprooted trees, severed power lines and produced heavy rain from Dundee in the south to Robinsonville in the north county area, said Larry Liddell, a spokesman for Tunica County.
Liddell said the back wall of the North Tunica Fire Station was blown out by high winds, but there have been no official reports of a tornado touching down. No injuries were reported.
Temperatures were not expected to drop too far after the cold front moved through. Temperatures should be in the 60s on today with lows in the 40s.
The warm weather should be back by Thursday, returning to the 70s.
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