Preparing for Francine’s impact: Where to find shelter, sandbags across South Mississippi

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Hurricane Francine is expected to make landfall near Morgan City, Louisiana Wednesday afternoon or evening. Forecasters say it will bring storm surge, flash flooding, strong winds and possible tornadoes to South Mississippi.

The National Weather Service is warning residents to rush preparations to completion and be prepared to shelter in place during evening hours.

Shelter and sandbag locations are listed below.

Shelters

Hancock County

• Kiln Safe Room, opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 18320 Highway 43, Kiln, MS.

Harrison County

• County Farm Road Shelter opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 10399 County Farm Road, Gulfport.

• Lyman Community Center opens at 9 a.m., Wednesday, 14592 County Farm Road, Gulfport, will accommodate pets.

• Lobouy Road Shelter opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday, 9505 Lobouy Road, Pass Christian.

• Safe Room opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 15625 Lamey Bridge Road, Biloxi.

Jackson County

• Central Jackson County Shelter opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday, 5500 Ballpark Road, Vancleave, MS.
• County Safe Room, opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 5500 Ballpark Road, Vancleave.

Pearl River County

• Picayune Community Safe Room opens at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 501 Laurel St. Pets are not allowed. Please bring food, water or any other needed items.
• Poplarville Community Safe Room opens at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 124 Rodeo St.

Pike County

• McComb Safe Room opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 2017 Quinlivan Road, McComb.

Sandbag Sites

Harrison County — sites open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Bags and sand will be provided. Residents must bring their own shovels and fill the bags themselves.

• Harrison County Road Department, 10076 Lorraine Road, Gulfport
• D’Iberville Work Center, 10085 First Ave., D’Iberville
• Woolmarket Work Center, 16395 Woolmarket Road, Biloxi
• Lyman Work Center, 15001 County Farm Road, Gulfport
• Orange Grove Work Center, 8300 34th Ave., Gulfport
• Courthouse Road Pier, 96 Courthouse Road, Gulfport
• Long Beach Harbor, 720 S. Cleveland Ave., Long Beach

Biloxi — self-serve sandbags are available Tuesday and Wednesday at:

• Henry Beck Park, 671 Division St.;
• Migues Park, 425 Parker St..
• A.J. Holloway Sports Complex, 765 Wells Drive,
• Fire Station 8 at 8479 Woolmarket Road; and
• Fire Station 9, 9370 Oaklawn Road.

Gulfport — Self serve sand and bags are available at one location.

• Corner of Hewes Avenue and Glover Street.

Hancock County — Self serve sand and sand bags begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Bring your own shovel. Those who need help getting the sand bags should call Hancock County Emergency Management Agency at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.

• Emergency Operations Center/Storm Prep Building, 18333 MS 603
• Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Drive
• Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Road
• Bayside Fire Department, 6215 West Hinds St.
• West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington St.
• Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle

Jackson County — Self-serve locations open at 7 a.m. Tuesday

• Ocean Springs — Public Works Department, 712 A Pine Drive
• Ocean Springs — West Division Roads Department, North Washington Ave. (MS 609)
• Ocean Springs — Fountainbleau Fire Department, 3901 MS 57 South
• Ocean Springs — St. Andrews Fire Dept., 1401 Elm St.
• Gautier — Behind City Hall on U.S. 90
• Moss Point — Forts Lake Fire Department, 10701 Forts Lake Road
• Moss Point — New Central Fire Station, 4204 Bellview St.
• Moss Point — East Division Roads Department, 10825 MS 63
• Vancleave — Central Division roads Department, 8500 Jim Ramsey Road

This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 7:15 AM.