‘We will get through this together,’ Lt. Gov. Hosemann says

16 WAPT’S TROY JOHNSON WAS THERE TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION… <WE’VE ARRIVED IN ROLLING FORK. WE ARE IN SHARKEY COUNTY…WE SEE DEVISTATION…SIGNIFICANT DEVISTATION TO THIS TOWN. IF YOU LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER, YOU CAN SEE THE HEAVY CREWS ALREADY STARTING TO WORK. THEIR TRYING TO CLEAR THESE ROADWAYS SO PEOPLE CAN GET ACROSS TOWN, TO CHECK ON FAMILY MEMBERS, TO CHECK ON FRIENDS> ALL AROUND, YOU CAN SMELL THE DISTINCTIVE ODOR OF GAS IN THE AIR, LIKELY FROM RUPTURED GAS LINES, A SIGN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE… <COMPLETE AND UTTER DEVASTATION. UH…JUST HOUSES, ROOFS RIPPED OFF OF HOUSES, WALLS TOOK DOWN FROM HOUSES> <SEEN SEVERAL AREAS WHERE PARTS OF THE CONCRETE, THE…ASPHALT HAD BEEN JACKED UP FROM THE GROUND. I MEAN, COMPLETE DEVASTATION> THERE WERE LIGHTS FROM CELLPHONES DANCING ACROSS THE DARKNESS… THE LIGHT HELPED GROUPS OF PEOPLE CAREFULLY MANEUVER THROUGH THE DEBRIS, AND BLOCKED ROADWAYS IN THE AFTERMATH… BUT EARLIER, WHEN THE TORNADO TORE THROUGH… <IT WAS A LOUD WIND. LIKE IT WAS…IT WAS LOUD> <WHEN IT CAME THRU, IT SOUND LIKE…HELICOPTER COMING THRU REAL FAST. AND IT CAME SO FAST AND QUICK> HE TOLD ME IT LASTED LESS THAN 15 MINUTES… <TREES DOWN EVERYWHERE…POWERLINES, PHONE LINES…EVERYTHING IS OUT. IT’S A BLACK OUT.> IN ADDITION TO LIVES BEING TURNED UPDSIDE DOWN BY THE FORCE OF NATURE…LIVES WERE ALSO LOST TOO… <I’VE SEEN A DEATH SO FAR. TROY: REALLY? I HAVE.> <THEY WAS OUTSIDE…THE HOUSE IS GONE. I GUESS IT THREW ‘EM UH, THROUGH THE WALL OR WHATEVA. IT’S ROUGH.> SHARKEY COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORT AT LEAST 7 CONFIRMED DEATHS IN THIS STORM… NATS THERE WERE A LOT OF HELPING HANDS…SURVEYING, RENDERING AID, ASSISTING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN….BUT THIS IS THE BEGINNING…THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD TO PULL THIS COMMUNITY BACK. <IT’S GONNA BE A LOT TO UNPACK OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS, AS EMS, AND POLICE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TRY TO SORT OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN

‘We will get through this together,’ Lt. Gov. Hosemann says

Hosemann says Legislature will look at ways to assist financially

Updated: 1:04 PM CDT Mar 25, 2023

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said the devastation from a tornado in Rolling Fork is overwhelming — both in terms of loss of life and damage.”The priority right now is search and rescue, in addition to assessment of immediate needs,” Hosemann said in a statement. “We are in conversation right now with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, local emergency officials, local government leaders, school district superintendents, and others about how the Legislature may be able to assist with monetary resources in this area and the numerous other impacted areas in our state.” Gov. Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency Saturday for areas affected by Friday night’s tornado, which is blamed for at least 23 deaths, unknown injuries and catastrophic damage.”Mississippi is a big neighborhood. We will get through this together,” Hosemann said. “We are grateful for all of our first responders and community leaders who will be integral in the process of grieving, cleaning up, and rebuilding in the coming days and weeks.”

JACKSON, Miss. —

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said the devastation from a tornado in Rolling Fork is overwhelming — both in terms of loss of life and damage.

“The priority right now is search and rescue, in addition to assessment of immediate needs,” Hosemann said in a statement. “We are in conversation right now with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, local emergency officials, local government leaders, school district superintendents, and others about how the Legislature may be able to assist with monetary resources in this area and the numerous other impacted areas in our state.”

Gov. Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency Saturday for areas affected by Friday night’s tornado, which is blamed for at least 23 deaths, unknown injuries and catastrophic damage.

“Mississippi is a big neighborhood. We will get through this together,” Hosemann said. “We are grateful for all of our first responders and community leaders who will be integral in the process of grieving, cleaning up, and rebuilding in the coming days and weeks.”