Below is a press release from the Mississippi State Department of Health:
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is providing personnel and resources throughout North Mississippi as the state recovers from the devastating ice storm.
MSDH has three medical needs shelters open in Alcorn, Lafayette and Panola counties. These shelters are housing people who need more care than can be provided in a general population shelter. Many of them are dependent on oxygen treatment 24 hours a day. MSDH nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors and support staff from all over the state are working in these shelters, which will remain open until utilities are restored and the residents can return home safely. MSDH is also coordinating the delivery of oxygen cylinders and concentrators to the shelters, as well to other counties that have made requests.
If you know of anyone with medical needs who needs a shelter in these areas, here are the locations:
Alcorn County - 2831 S. Harper Road in Corinth
Lafayette County - 400 Price Street in Oxford
Panola County - 630 US 51 North in Batesville
“I am extremely proud of the speed with which we were able to open these medical needs shelters,” said Dr. Dan Edney, MSDH Executive Director and State Health Officer. “I visited the Oxford shelter over the weekend and spoke with residents who were so appreciative of the help they were receiving. Our staff came together from local areas, as well as from the central and southern parts of the state. It’s great to see that when Mississippians are in need, our entire agency steps up and comes together.”
As of Noon, the MSDH Bureau of Public Water Supply staff has made contact with 573 water systems in the affected areas, and all of those systems report they are functioning.
- 414 report they are fully operational.
- 159 report they are operating with some restrictions. The restricted operations could be due to running on generator power or damage being repaired.
- 117 have issued precautionary boil water alerts.
As water samples are tested and cleared by the MSDH Public Health Laboratory, the boil-water notices will be lifted. For a list of all boil water notices, please visit the MSDH website at: Water Safety Notices - Mississippi State Department of Health
MSDH is also in contact with hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, which report no major issues or unmet needs. We will continue to deploy additional resources as needed.
