The City of Meridian, Mississippi continues to monitor conditions across the city following last night’s severe weather and historic flooding.
Public Works, Public Safety, Fire, Community Development, and Police crews are actively assessing roadways, drainage systems, and impacted areas since early this morning. At this time, water levels in many locations are beginning to recede though some areas remain affected.
City teams are closely monitoring tributaries, ditches, and creeks, along with the overall integrity of drainage structures and infrastructure.
“We want our residents to know that we are fully engaged and working across all departments to respond where needed,” said Mayor Percy Bland. “This is a coordinated, all-hands on deck effort, and we are focused on protecting our community and keeping people safe. We’re working in conjunction with Director Odie Barrett at LEMA.
Residents are encouraged to remain cautious, particularly around areas that experienced high water overnight. Do not move barricades or attempt to drive through standing water.
City teams will continue to assess conditions throughout the day and provide additional updates as needed.
We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as our crews continue their work.
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LEMA
Residents in Lauderdale County are being urged to report storm damage as the community begins recovering from severe weather that moved through the area overnight.
Local officials said damage reports are critical to determining whether the county qualifies for federal disaster assistance. The Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is collecting information from residents to assess the overall impact of the storms.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that damage meet specific thresholds before aid can be made available. Current guidelines set the minimum at $4.86 per person for county-level damages and $1.94 per person statewide.
Emergency management officials emphasized that reporting all damage — even minor issues — can make a significant difference in reaching those thresholds and securing assistance for residents with more serious losses.
