200,000 Jacksonians Without Water; MEMA Opens Emergency Center

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[Verbatim Release]PEARL -- Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Mike Womack has partially activated the State Emergency Operations Center to help cities and counties with the ongoing water emergency. A partial activation brings in members of certain state agencies to provide emergency support. At this time staff specializing in public works and engineering, logistics management and public health are working 12 hour dayshifts. "We are working very closely with every county and city that has experienced water problems from the recent freezing temperatures," said Director Womack. "Our goal is to help get the affected residents back to normal as soon as possible."

The following counties have reported water problems:

Carroll: Approximately 10 customers affected. Received 2 pallets of bottled water from MEMA.

Claiborne: City of Port Gibson reporting more than 4,000 residences affected.

Hinds: City of Jackson reported up to 200,000 residents without water. MEMA has delivered 22 pallets of bottled water to Jackson and five pallets to Hinds County since Monday.

Lauderdale: More than 5,400 residences without water, received six pallets of water from MEMA.

Quitman: City of Marks reported 2,300 residents affected.

Tippah: City of Walnut reports 500 residents without water.

Warren/City of Vicksburg: Repaired water plant and three water main breaks. Approximately 100 homes affected.

Wayne: Approximately 40 to 50 homes without water. Received two pallets of bottled water from MEMA.

Tunica: MEMA provided eight pallets of water to county.

MEMA has also provided water to the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Jackson and the Mississippi Department of Human Services. MEMA’s total for water provided as of Wednesday night is 48 pallets.

The following is a list of actions being made by state and voluntary agencies:

Governor Haley Barbour has ordered state offices closed in Jackson Thursday.

MEMA: Supplying bottled water and resources as requested. (For updates follow us on Facebook and twitter using MSEMA.)

MS National Guard: Five 5,000-gallon water tankers and 20 400-gallon water trailers are being transported from Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg to the Jackson area to assist with water outages.

MS Dept. of Transportation: MDOT crews began working with Jackson Public Works Tuesday night and will continue to work 12 hour shifts with the city until water is restored.

MS Institutions of Higher Learning: MS Institutions of Higher Learning: The IHL Executive Office remained closed today due to lack of water pressure in the building. Employees will be updated on IHL’s status later this evening. For more information visit www.ihl.state.ms.us. Jackson State University will remain closed until Tuesday, January 19. Students will be able to register and consult with academic advisors from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 and Friday, Jan. 15 at the JSU Student Center. All registration activities will be held in the Third Floor ballroom. For more information visit www.jsums.edu.

American Red Cross: The Central MS Red Cross is working with the City of Jackson to distribute water that is being donated to the city. Red Cross served lunch and will serve dinner to volunteers assisting with water distribution.

For more information, contact Jeff Rent or Greg Flynn in MEMA External Affairs at 866-920-MEMA (6362), or visit us online at www.msema.org.

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