Overnight, severe tornadoes swept through parts of Mississippi, causing extensive damage, injuring dozens, and claiming the lives of at least 23 individuals. Wind gusts of up to 80 mph and large hailstones were reported. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has confirmed the death toll, with four people still missing as of 6:20 a.m. The toll is expected to rise. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) has activated emergency medical support and other resources to aid those impacted.
The former mayor of Rolling Fork in Sharkey County, which was one of the areas hit the hardest by the tornado, stated that a significant portion of the town had been destroyed. In an interview, Fred Miller described the terrifying experience of being in the storm and the damage it caused to his home. He reported that many houses and all the businesses on Highway 61 had been destroyed, and there were people trapped in eateries. He mentioned that all the roads were impassable, and it was a chaotic situation. Miller expressed his concern and shared that he had not heard any positive news regarding the situation. This was before the official death toll was released.
