Editor’s note: This is a developing story. We will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
Update (Sunday: 7:45 a.m.)
President Joe Biden approved a federal declaration, making funds available to Monroe County residents impacted by the storm. The assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs; low-cost loans for uninsured property losses; and other programs helping business owners and individuals recover.
The federal declaration, which also provides funds on a cost-share basis for hazard mitigation, also impacts Carroll, Humphreys and Sharkey counties, also impacted by the storm.
To apply for disaster assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov, call (800) 621-3362 or use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s app.
The United Way of Northeast Mississippi set up a volunteer resource center at Amory’s Old National Guard Armory, located at 101 9th St. S, which is also being used as an American Red Cross shelter.
Volunteers can register at the center, where efforts are being coordinated. Volunteers should sign up at the center and be directed to particular areas of need.
For more information on how to help, visit www.unitedwayms.org and www.volunteerms.org.
Update (Saturday: 8:03 p.m.)
Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley released the names of the storm’s two fatalities. Ethan Herndon, 34, and Riley Mae Herndon, 23 months, died at their residence at 20072 Herndon Ln. in Wren. The cause of death was multiple trauma, and Gurley said the time of their deaths was 10:52 p.m.
Cleveland-Moffett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Update (11:36 a.m.)
City of Amory officials have issued a temporary curfew and are asking residents to boil their water before drinking in the aftermath of Friday night’s tornado.
“For the safety of our citizens, visitors, businesses, and property please know that the City of Amory and Amory Police Department will be making sure that a temporary curfew is in place from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m!!” the post reads. “Please remain off of the streets unless you are a first responder.”
City officials are also warning residents to avoid downed power lines and to remain off the city’s roadways to allow first responders to work.
Update (11:21 a.m.)
Smithville Mayor Phil Goodwin said the small town, which was devastated by a tornado in 2011, was spared major damage during Friday night’s storms.
“Thankfully, we didn’t take a direct hit,” he told the Monroe Journal. “But there is damage just outside the city limits, and we’re completely without power. Have been since last night.”
In Amory, volunteers are collecting donations of water, blankets and tarps at the former Amory Garment building.
Update (9:40 a.m.)
Amory Mayor Corey Glenn said he and other city officials are currently surveying the scope of the damage.
“Obviously, we got hit real hard,“ Glenn said, adding that he believes advanced warning prevented a worse outcome. ”We did have an advance warning there. We’d had a little bit of heads up knowing that we were about to get hit. I don’t know exactly the lead time that we had, but we did have a fair amount of time to understand and prepare for it.“
Glenn called the damage “catastrophic.” He said he was unaware of any casualties within Amory proper.
“Right now, we’re just making sure that we don’t have any casualties or anybody that’s ”still trapped inside of a home. So that’s kind of where we see it right now,” he said.
Glenn estimated there are several hundred homes damaged within Amory. He said there have been no serious injuries reported so far.
“That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any, it’s just that I’m not aware of any at this time,” he said.
Glenn said he expects to continue surveying damage until mid-afternoon. From there, the mayor said city officials and emergency workers would begin the cleanup phase.
As of 9:30 a.m., neither the city’s water nor power systems were working. Glenn said it could be several days before the city’s power is restored, citing damage to the power grid’s infrastructure.
“It’s a horrible, horrible situation for the county,” he said.
Stand Firm Ministry is partnering with J.T. Winders to offer food to anyone impacted by the storm in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot.
Update (9:10 a.m.)
A walk through downtown Amory just after 9 a.m. Saturday morning found numerous buildings and businesses damaged by the storms, particularly in the area of Vinegar Bend. Downed power lines and trees ran alongside Main Street, and many downtown businesses had sustained visible damage.
The roof of Alsups Heating & Cooling had been peeled away, and multiple windows of popular local eatery Bill’s Hamburgers had been boarded up. The sign for Magnolia Soap Co. was across the street from where it normally stands.
There is also significant damage at Pedal Life, When Pigs Fly. Both Piggly Wiggly and Smokin’ Bros also sustained some damage.
Amory High School also seems to have sustained damage, although the extent of which is not yet known. West Amory also received some significant damage.
Original Story:
AMORY – Tornadoes swept through Northeast Mississippi late Friday night, causing widespread damage and multiple deaths in at least a portion of Monroe County, including Amory.
Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley early Saturday morning confirmed two fatalities in Wren related to the storms that swept through around 11 p.m. on Friday night.
Damage to homes, vehicles and structures was reported in areas, such as Amory, Smithville and Wren.
The severe weather downed trees throughout the county, making several roads impassable.
There are reports of damage in the north and west parts of Amory, in addition to Main Street. As of midnight, roads into Amory were blocked to incoming traffic, with the exception of first responders.
Road blockages continued to be an issue by daylight on Saturday morning. Emergency officials are asking travelers to avoid the area.
Power lines were downed on Highway 45 in Wren, near Whatley Road. A mobile home appeared to have been picked up and moved from its site and was completely destroyed. Debris from the home was scattered on the highway.
A boat and enclosed trailer were also blown nearby into the median.
South Mississippi endured the brunt of last night’s devastating tornadic storms. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado caused damage about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, Mississippi. The rural towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork reported destruction as the tornado swept northeast at 70 mph without weakening, racing towards Alabama through towns, including Winona and Amory, into the night.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a Twitter post that search and rescue teams from local and state agencies were deployed to help victims impacted by the tornadoes. The agency confirmed early Saturday that 23 people had died across Mississippi, four were missing and dozens were injured.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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