[Guest post by DRJ]

Tornadoes swept through 17 Mississippi counties today, killing 9 and injuring dozens more:

“Nine people are reported dead so far in the wake of today’s severe storms and tornadoes that swept across Mississippi.
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“We still have people trapped in houses and cars,” [Governor Haley] Barbour said from in front of Ribeye Steakhouse off U.S. 49. The governor became teary describing the damage to Yazoo City.

“It reminds me of (Hurricane) Katrina,” he said.

The tornado’s path of destruction appears to be several miles wide and stretches from the Eagle Lake community north of Vicksburg to Yazoo City and into Holmes County.”

Forecasters said it would be a bad storm but fortunately Mississippians showed the same preparation and fortitude that got them through Katrina:

“The Mississippi Highway Patrol has closed all roads into the Delta city, Sgt. James Walker said, stressing that power is out and power lines are down.

Pollard said injuries ranged from minor to severe. AMR has 11 ambulances transporting patients and have called on AMR operations in Natchez and Gulfport for help. They have also set up operation of its 24-foot disaster supply trailer to aid patients.

“We knew this was going to be a bad storm. Everybody was ready to come in. We always get a massive response when we issue an all-call.”

Best wishes.

— DRJ