Parts of South Mississippi experienced flash flooding yesterday after a storm system struck in the early hours of Thursday, 28 April, 2016, dumping as much as 10 inches (254mm) of rain in just a few hours. Gulfport, Biloxi and D’Iberville have been hardest hit. Around 20 homes and businesses have been flooded in Gulfport, where emergency crews carried out over 70 flood rescues. The Red Cross has set up shelters for those evacuated. Gulfport’s mayor, Billy Hewes, has declared a State of Emergency for the city.

In a statement of 28 April, he said: “With today’s unprecedented weather event, dropping over 10 inches of rain this morning with continued accumulation anticipated over the course of the day, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the City of Gulfport, I am hereby declaring a State of Emergency. Monitoring the storm since early this morning, our crews are at work responding to storm drain blockages, water rescues, road closures, and emergency calls. FULL REPORT


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