NATCHEZ, Miss. – Adams County supervisors commended the work of utility workers, law officers, firemen, emergency management officials and other essential workers responding to last week’s disastrous ice storm.
“It wasn’t easy,” said county board President Angela Hutchins.
Meeting Monday for the first time since snow and ice crippled Adams County, the Board of Supervisors ratified Hutchins’ weather-emergency declaration she signed last week. This helps pave the way for Adams County to seek state and federal funds to assist in the recovery.
Ice, rain, and fallen trees damaged structures, caused widespread power outages and blocked roadways. Broken and leaking pipes drained public water systems, rendering their output temporarily undrinkable.
While reports Monday show most Natchez and Adams County residents have had their electricity restored, Adams County Emergency Management Director Brad Bradford said some power outages remain. “Everybody has to be patient right now. There are a lot of lines down,” said Bradford, noting utility workers have been working long hours making repairs since power went out beginning Wednesday.
Bradford encouraged people with ice-storm structural damage — such as from leaky roofs and fallen trees – to file an online report with the county:
https://www.adamscountyms.net or https://www.crisistrack.com/public/adamsMS/request.html
This will help the county as it seeks federal disaster-recovery funds. Even property owners covered by insurance should report their damage. The damage-report form also includes information for debris removal.
Bradford expressed hope Monday the local boil-water precautionary measures could be lifted Tuesday when laboratory tests show water is safe to drink after running with low pressure for several days. Natchez Water Works and city officials have posted reports saying city water could be safe to drink by Wednesday.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday that the county jail’s water pipes burst during last week’s freeze, causing a flood and extensive damage to the facility and equipment.
Mayor Dan Gibson noted nearly 7,000 Entergy customers in Natchez were without electricity at the peak of the power blackout.
“This has been a tough time for everyone, especially those still out of power. But together we’ve made it through the worst. A better week awaits. And Spring is right around the corner,” Gibson said Sunday in a post he put on Facebook.
Adams County Road Manager Robbie Dollar said county crews have been laboring to clear roads and pick up storm debris with hopes the federal government will reimburse the county for the costs. He also expressed hopes city crews will do the same for trees and limbs within Natchez.
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