WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Governor Says Evacuees should Stay at Least One More Day

Governor Says Evacuees should Stay at Least One More Day

By Jon Kalahar
jkalahar@wlbt.net

Governor Haley Barbour is telling all evacuees to stay put and not try to return to the coast for at least one more day.

In his second press conference of the day at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Barbour says flooding is a significant problem in the Hancock County communities of Pearlington and Waveland as well as most low lying areas on the coast.

He says there is limited damage due to winds but the storm surge was above ten feet in some areas.

And highway 90 is covered with water on the western end of the coast.

"We do not know with certainty all the areas that have flooding, we do not know the extent of damage to roads what customers have electricity and what customers don't, so we urge the public do not go home tomorrow," said Governor Haley Barbour.

Plus, Barbour says there is a 6pm to 6am curfew and residents would not be allowed down there during those times.

The Governor says residents should wait until Wednesday at the earliest after checking with local county officials.

He also wanted to reassure residents that local and state law enforcement as well as two thousand national guardsmen are on the coast to prevent looting.

To this point there have been no reports of looters.