Mississippi homes, businesses destroyed following massive flood
Mississippi fields, businesses, and homes are submerged following flooding from the Pearl River.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said that there is no longer reliable water after the failure of Jackson's main water-treatment facility left much of the capital city with low water pressure.
Reeves was briefed by the state's health department and told reporters in a Monday evening press conference that it had been a "near impossibility" to hold the city's main water-treatment facility together. He said that there was a "near certainty" that Jackson would fail to produce running water in the coming weeks or months if conditions did not improve.
"We began preparing for a scenario where Jackson would be without running water for an extended period," Reeves said.
"Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale. It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets and to meet other critical needs," he warned.
Over the weekend, Reeves said that his administration, assessed risks, devised water distribution plans and sourced tankers.
"Unfortunately, that failure appears to have begun today," he said.
Reeves' office declared a state of emergency on Monday night.
"The state is marshaling tremendous resources to protect the people of our capital city," Reeves noted. "It will take time for that to come to fruition. But, we are here in times of crisis for anyone in the state who needs it."
Up to 180,000 Jackson residents are set to receive drinking and non-drinking water for an unknown period of time that will be distributed by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The National Guard is also being called in to help.
"We have immediately organized water for fire safety, which was one of our first priorities. We are organizing the resources to provide water for sanitation and life safety," Reeves said.
The Mississippi government is asking residents across the state to share personal resources as there is "no silver bullet fix."
"Please stay safe. Do not drink the water… Be smart. Protect yourself. Protect your family," Reeves added. "Preserve water and look out for your fellow man and look out for your neighbors."
Jackson has longstanding problems with its water system. In 2021, a cold snap left a significant number of people without running water after pipes froze. Similar issues happened earlier this year, but on a smaller scale. The city has been under a boil-water notice since late July because tests found a cloudy quality to the water that could lead to health problems.
Jackson has two water-treatment plants; the larger one is near a reservoir that provides most of the city’s water supply; the reservoir also has a role in flood control.
The water-treatment facility's failure comes after the Pearl River flooded streets and at least one home on Monday after thunderstorms dumped heavy rain on the state capital.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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