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Area braces for possible brush with T.S. Ida

Dec 1, 2009

— Jones County residents were expected to receive strong winds and rain into this morning as remnants of Tropical Storm Ida blow into the area.
The Jones County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) hosted a Web-based weather briefing with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson Monday morning that included participation from local elected officials and emergency services personnel.
There were representatives on hand from groups including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, EmServ, Laurel Police Department and Jones County Sheriff’s Department, City of Laurel, Dixie Electric and Mississippi Power, Laurel School District and Jones County Schools, as well as the mayors of Laurel and Ellisville.
NWS forecaster Alan Campbell, who led the briefing, said Tropical Storm Ida was expected to make landfall in the Mobile Bay area with sustained winds of 70 mph. However, Campbell said heavy winds and rain could be expected from Grand Isle, La., through the Big Bend area of Florida.
Jones, Lamar, Forrest and Clarke counties in Mississippi have all been placed under a Lake Wind Advisory with sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 35 mph and rainfall of 1 to 3 inches.
As of press time, it appeared the storm was heading further east, but Jones County EMA director Don McKinnon said the area could still face downed trees and possible power outages through this morning.
“We have emergency generators at all of our public facilities now,” he said. “So, in case of a power outage, we won’t be as adversely affected as during Katrina.”
While Ida was downgraded to a tropical storm early Monday, McKinnon said the meeting was important to “shake out the cobwebs.”
“We’ve had a very relaxed hurricane season,” he said. “I’m not wishing anything on us, but I want us to be prepared and talk about the things we need to do.”
McKinnon said he believed the area could handle two to four inches of rain, but advised residents about possible flooding.
In a press release Monday afternoon, Lance Chancellor, EMA public information officer, issued the following tips, “Citizens are urged to pay close attention to any severe weather watches and warnings and take measures to protect themselves should severe weather warnings be issued. Citizens are urged never to attempt to cross flooded roadways — turn around, don’t drown! Severe weather occurring during the overnight hours is particularly dangerous as many people are asleep.”
Dr. Steve Thrash, superintendent of Jones County Schools, said no rescheduling was recommended for the district, but his office would stay on watch.
“We may get some small gusts of wind tonight (Monday), but it’s a little too early to call,” he said. “If it turns a little further east, we may not even get any rain out of it. We’ll monitor it very closely. If it changes, of course, we’ll change in what we do.”
Lacey Walters, public information officer for the Laurel School District, said the city schools were also watching the weather and making no changes.
Marlo Dorsey, vice president of marketing at Jones County Junior College, said the school would remain open with classes meeting as scheduled.
“College officials remain in close contact with emergency officials and are carefully monitoring the weather,” she said. “Students should use all precautions necessary in the event of inclement weather as they travel to and from campus. Students and employees can receive updates if weather conditions change via local media outlets or the college’s Website at www.jcjc.edu.
McKinnon said he’s prepared to issue a local state of emergency if the situation worsens.
“We hope it’s much ado about nothing,” he said. “But, we’ve got to be prepared. We’ve got to be ready.”
The Leader-Call received a number of e-mails throughout the day Monday, noting measures being taken in preparation of the storm. Dixie Electric Power Association, which serves 38,000 accounts in Jones, Perry, Wayne, Forrest, Covington, Clarke and Jasper counties, was monitoring the situation closely, according to Lydia Walters, DEPA Communication and Human Resource Manager.
“If outages occur within the Dixie Electric service area, personnel will respond as soon as possible,” said Walters. To report outages in Laurel during business hours, call 601-425-2535 or 601-425-2539 after hours.
On the Gulf Coast, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport halted all overnight flights and canceled early morning departures Tuesday.
McKinnon said agencies throughout the state did the best they could in preparation of the after the season storm.
“You know what they say about an ounce of prevention,” he said. “You don’t want to be working a plane crash when you could have canceled it. The public wants to feel safe. You have to make the hard call and the unpopular call. Sometimes, you have got to bite the bullet.”

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