The mayor of Jackson, Ms Chokwe Antar Lumumba has asked residents to evacuate as river waters continue to rise due to flooding.
Lumumba told a news conference on Saturday that he had received calls from individuals wondering or questioning whether they should get out and if they could get out now.
Flooding swept across the southwest region of the U.S. last week. This is even as the National Weather Service (NWS) warned about a potential tropical cyclone in the region.
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A NWS hydrologist was quoted as saying that Mississippi’s Pearl River is expected to crest at 35.5 feet on Monday, six inches lower than previous forecasts. A spokesperson for Lumumba also said that 100 to 150 homes could be affected in the city.
“Get out now get out as soon as possible to prevent any incident or challenge with people trying to leave the area all at once, or any concern over whether the river crests sooner than you may anticipate our projection.”
Recall that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) declared a state of emergency for areas that are still affected by the river flooding on Saturday which according to him, will allow state agencies to better assist in the response efforts and carry out their emergency responsibilities.
Story was adapted from CNN.
