Live updates: US 90 closed, hazards remain a day after Hurricane Ida drenches South MS
Sunshine and blue skies Tuesday morning over South Mississippi were a welcome sight as South Mississippi residents continue to deal with the mess left by a foot or more of rain from Hurricane Ida.
The worst damage came near Lucedale in George County, where a section of Mississippi Highway 26 washed away in the heavy rain. Two people died and 10 were injured, three of them critically.
Heat index tops 100
Updated at 1:45 p.m.
National Weather Service has issued a heat index advisory for South Mississippi and southern Louisiana until 5 p.m. Tuesday, when it will feel like 105 degrees. Another heat advisory will be in effect Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when it will feel like 106.
Showers are likely in Gulfport Wednesday with a high of 89 degrees, according to the NWS forecast.
— Mary Perez
South Mississippi reopens
Updated 12:50 p.m.
Many schools reopened Tuesday after being closed Monday, or held online classes.
Businesses reopened Monday after curfews were lifted in Harrison and Hancock counties. Some, like Rouses Market in Ocean Springs, took cash only Monday until the credit card system could be restored.
Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi reopened Monday and most other casinos reopened through the day Tuesday. Silver Slipper Casino on the west side of Hancock County will be back at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Here’s what’s happening across South Mississippi the day after Ida.:
Road conditions
Updated 11:15 a.m.
U.S. 90 continues to be closed Tuesday morning as crews remove sand and debris. The beach in Harrison also remains closed.
Mississippi Department of Transportation reports flooding and debris on U.S. 90 in Hancock County between North Beach Boulevard and Myrtle Street.
The I-110 bridge in Biloxi was closed Tuesday morning when the crossing bars were stuck in the down position, the city reported, because there was no electricity.
The Popp’s Ferry Bridge is beginning to open for boat traffic as the shrimp boats and others that sought safe harbor during Ida return to the marinas.
— Mary Perez
I-10 traffic woes
Evacuees from Louisiana are returning home Tuesday, and MDOT reports gridlock on I-10 westbound in several locations.
Congestion was reported from I-10 exits 75 to 61 at Gautier, where the interstate widens to three lanes, and again from Gulfport to the Louisiana line, which narrows back to two lanes.
An accident was reported at 12:37 p.m. at Exit 44 at Cedar Lake in Biloxi, which MDOT said was affecting traffic in both directions.
Just as they did on Saturday when they were heading east ahead of Hurricane Ida, drivers are looking for alternate routes around the traffic.
— Isabelle Taft
Restoring power
Updated 4 p.m.
Crews from several states helped restore power across the area. From a high of more than 44,000 customers without power early Monday morning, the number of customers waiting for service to be restored in the six southern counties was less than one-quarter of that by Tuesday morning.
Mississippi Power reported that 95% of it customers would have power restored by midnight Monday. At 8 a.m. Tuesday, 65 customers were waiting for service. Singing River Electric had 61 customers without service in Jackson County. Coast Electric had 10,000 customers awaiting power, most of them north of Picayune in Pearl River County.
By 10:30 a.m. Mississippi Power had 106 customers without power, Singing River 18 and Coast Electric 7,841.
By 4 p.m., Mississippi Power had 37 customers without power, Singing River 3 and Coast Electric 5,464,
— Mary Perez
Rivers flooding
Updated 11 :15 a.m.
Rivers are above flood stage and present hazardous conditions for boaters fro swift currents and debris.
Boaters should use extreme caution and report any incidents to the Marine Patrol Division of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 228-896-0606 or the Department of Marine Resources at 228- 374-5000.
A river flood warning is issued in South Mississippi, and they are expected to crest well above flood stage:
▪ Biloxi River should crest Tuesday afternoon near 17 feet, 5 feet above flood stage
▪ Wolf River should crest Wednesday morning near 15 feet, 7 feet above flood stage
▪ Tchoutacabouffa River has crested at 15.43, more than 7 feet over flood stage, and should slowly start to fall
— Mary Perez
How to report damage
Updated 11:15 p.m.
Biloxi seems to have come through Ida with very limited damage, the city report. Biloxi businesses owners and residents are encouraged to report any structure damage caused by the storm to the Community Development Department at 228-435-6280.
Residents of South Mississippi can report structural damage to their homes using MEMA’s self-report tool. Residents also should begin documenting the damage and filing an insurance claim.
Canceled
Updated 11:15 a.m.
The impact of Hurricane Ida and COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of Tuesday night’s home game between the Biloxi Shuckers and Mississippi Braves. The series is expected to open Wednesday to allow for additional testing and contract tracing of the Mississippi Braves organization following a positive Covid test, the Shuckers said in a press release.
— Mary Perez
The Sun Herald will continue to update this report.
This story was originally published August 31, 2021 at 10:46 AM.
