Zeta live updates: Deaths, injuries reported by county, plus Coast power outage update
Some Mississippi Gulf Coast residents are still without power from Hurricane Zeta as crews from throughout Mississippi and several other states worked all night to restore electric service.
Many schools are closed for another day as Zeta proves to have brought the worst storm damage to South Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago.
No rain is in the immediate forecast for the next five days as homes, churches and businesses have bald patches on their roofs where shingles were blown away.
The dry conditions have prompted burn bans in Coast counties.
Mississippi Power update
As of 6 p.m. Monday, Mississippi Power said 99% of customers who can receive power have electricity fully restored.
That is ahead of the company’s original estimation of 95% of customers restored by midnight.
“I want to thank our customers for their patience and perseverance as we worked to restore their service,” Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Wilson said in a statement. “We put every resource available to us into restoring their service as quickly and safely as possible.”
The company also said it will continue working to restore service to all remaining customers impacted by the storm.
Lowe’s handing out supplies
Lowe’s will be giving away buckets full of cleanup supplies at several stores on the Coast on Wednesday. The buckets will include items like water, flashlights, trashbags and moisture absorber. At the Gulfport store, 1,000 buckets will be given away. Five-hundred will be passed out at other locations.
The giveaways begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the following locations:
- Lowe’s of Gulfport: 2151 John Hill Blvd., Gulfport, Miss. 39501
- Lowe’s of D’Iberville: 3700 Sangani Blvd., D’Iberville, Miss. 39540
- Lowe’s of Waveland: 9020 Highway 603, Waveland, Miss. 39576
- Lowe’s of Gautier: 3200 Highway 90, Gautier, Miss. 39553
Casualty report
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported by county Monday the following deaths and injuries from Hurricane Zeta:
- Harrison — 2 Deceased, 49 Injured
George — 1 Injured
Hancock — 17 Injured
- Jackson — 9 Injured
Damage to homes and businesses reported to MEMA is:
- George — 283 homes, 2 businesses/farms and one public road/building affected
- Hancock — 350 homes and 26 businesses/farms affected
- Harrison — 7,061 homes, 195 businesses/farms and 210 public roads/buildings affected
- Jackson — 1,322 homes and 42 public roads/buildings affected
- Stone — 37 homes, 26 businesses/farms and two public roads/buildings affected
Restoring power
Mississippi Power reports Monday morning that about 5,000 customers are without service five days into the restorations, with most of the outages in Gulfport. The Lucedale area was hardest hit in the Mississippi Power service area.
The company said personnel from 18 states are working on the outages and estimates 95% of customers will have power by midnight Monday.
Coast Electric has 6,725 customers without power Monday, down more than 10,000 on Sunday. Crews, aided by an additional 700 people from outside the area, have replaced 600 broken or leaning electric poles.
Singing River Electric has 13,000 customers without power Monday morning. The largest numbers are 6,500 customers in George County and 5,700 in Jackson County. Additional crew members are still arriving to help restore power.
All precincts should have power
Secretary of State Michael Watson said Monday all of the counties and precincts will be ready for voters on Tuesday.
Mississippi Power has restored service to all the polling places, he said. Coast Electric said it has three polling places in Hancock County without power, and it would be restored Monday.
Two polling places were damaged by Hurricane Zeta. One in Hancock County had minor damage, he said, which will be repaired by Tuesday. A polling place in Stone County had roof and water damage, he said. It is expected to be repaired by Tuesday or the polling place will move to a church across the street, and signs will be posted.
One polling place in Greene County may not have electricity restored, he said, but it has a generator and a source of heat.
WiFi and charging stations
MEMA has donated a charging station for mobile devices. It is at Goodwill Industries at 12057 Mississippi 49 South, Gulfport. It is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Nov. 2-6.
Sparklight had brought in crews from other markets to help get cable and internet service back online. Most of the outages are related to electrical service, the company reports Monday, and also requires the removal of debris and repairs to damaged lines.
WiFi hotspots are available in the parking lots of Sparklight offices at:
- Biloxi: 786 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Long Beach: 19201 Pineville Road
- Gulfport: 12261 US 49, Ste. 8
- Pacagoula: 5100 MacPhelah St.
Free supplies
Lowe’s home improvement stores will hold drive-through bucket brigade events starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday at its Gulfport, D’Iberville, Waveland and Gautier stores.
While supplies last, Lowe’s will pass out 1,000 free Lowe’s buckets full of cleanup supplies at the Gulfport store and 500 free buckets of supplies at each of the other events.
Supplies include items such as water, flashlights, trash bags and DampRid moisture absorber.
Free meals available
▪ Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and the Game On Foundation will set up a Hurricane Zeta Relief Kitchen Wednesday in the parking lot at Bay High School’s Tiger Stadium. Anyone in need can drive-thru from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and receive a free meal. Walk-On’s anticipates being able to serve more than 1,000 meals to the community.
▪ Gone Fishing Ministries will host a community meal for Pass Christian from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, in the parking lot of Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, 322 Davis Ave., Pass Christian.
Debris removal under way
Cleanup in Harrison County is estimated to cost $11 million and will begin later this week in unincorporated areas. The cities will each have their own debris removal services.
Debris must be stacked according to FEMA guidelines, and not stacked on the street.
Casino still closed
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi won’t reopen until at least Thursday. “Employee and guest safety remains a top priority and the resort is expected to reopen no sooner than Thursday, Nov. 5,” said spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo Spain.
The other casinos on the Mississippi Coast reopened by Saturday.
Boil water advisories
Damage to water infrastructure and interruptions in power have resulted in boil water advisories throughout Harrison County. These are the latest locations:
- Saucier Utilities
- Ridgecrest Estates
- Dogwood Hills Subdivision
- Pine Haven Mobile Home Village
- Charlotte Development Co. Knollwood Subdivision
- Pass Christian Isles
- The Woods
- The Oaks Utilities
- Palmer Creek Utility Association
- Deerwood Utilities
- Dolans Mobile Home Park
- Tuxachanie Estates #2
- Lake Wood Environmental
- Bayou Bernard Industrial
Mississippi Department of Health updates the advisories daily.
Back in business
Mississippi Aquarium will reopen Tuesday. All tickets purchased for general admission on Nov. 3-8 will be priced at $20.20. The campus had minor damage during Hurricane and some animals may not be on exhibit until habitats are repaired.
Road hazards remain
MDOT said Monday morning that U.S. 90 and other roads are passable. Drivers should treat traffic lights that aren’t operating as four-way stop unless law enforcement is on scene directing traffic.
Traffic lights are blinking yellow or inoperable across South Mississippi as crews continue to work on restoring them one at a time.
The Sun Herald will update this article throughout the day.
Check out the MDOT alert map here.
This story was originally published November 2, 2020 at 10:22 AM.
