A flood disaster is looming in the southern US state. A mayor recommends that his residents flee.
The US state of Mississippi declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to the threat of flooding. Governor Tate Reeves said this on Twitter, but also admitted: “The state of Mississippi is as prepared as possible for this flood.”
According to Reeves, it is expected that the Pearl River could reach a high of almost eleven meters on Monday. That means the peak could occur 24 hours earlier than previously expected, according to the governor. The city of Jackson, through which the river runs, would be particularly affected.
Mayor warns people
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba advised residents to voluntarily evacuate their homes. “If you are able to leave now, get out now,” Lumumba said at a press conference on Saturday, according to CNN. The mayor expects around 150 houses to be affected by the flood. He warned that residents might not be able to enter their homes for up to two weeks.
Severe flooding had already occurred in Jackson in 2020. At that time, the river had risen to more than eleven meters.