In his first official act as the new Carroll County Emergency Management Director, Ken Strachan updated supervisors on the aftermath of five days of heavy rains that caused water to flood roads, roads to wash out, widespread flooding and mudslides.
Strachan said from Tuesday to Saturday, the county saw almost 10 inches of rain.
“In the northern part of the county, up by the airport, they saw nine inches,” Strachan told supervisors Monday morning in Vaiden.
“The gage near Winona saw 8 inches and the one in Vaiden saw eight inches of rain,” he said.
In an effort to recoup some of their losses and help their citizens, Carroll County Supervisors signed a proclamation of an existence of a local emergency and approved a resolution to be sent to Governor Phil Bryant to declare a state of emergency for Carroll County.
The rain affected the entire county as supervisors worked beginning Sunday to get many of the roads that were closed by flooding re-opened to the public. Not only were there washouts, but culverts were also washed out as well.
“If a state of emergency is declared, the money would be reimbursed right?” Sugar Mullins asked Strachan.
“Yes sir, it would; that’s why y’all signed the proclamation Friday,” Strachan said. “I believe one has already been declared.”
“Do you know where?” Mullins asked.
“Carroll County, that’s where it need to be,” Supervisor Dill Tucker replied.
Strachan said he wasn’t sure where the state of emergency was declared.
Strachan said MEMA was scheduled to come Monday and do an assessment of Carroll County, and he had prepared a damaged report ahead of their arrival.
Strachan reported that a large portion of County Road 93 in Beat 1 which is north of North Carrollton between the Jefferson and Hickory Grove communities was washed out. Near McCarley on County Road 85, there had been at least six inches to a foot of water on the road and it was closed to the backside of Lake Traderhorn. He said there was water crossing County Road 214 near the Duck Hill exit.
Supervisor Jim Neill said that County Road 93 will be closed several days until a large 60-foot-long culvert is installed. CR 93 is north of North Carrollton between Jefferson and Hickory Grove community. He said the culverts were delivered to Beat 1 on Monday afternoon.
Supervisors Claude Fluker and Tucker also ordered culverts to replace were some that had been washed out.
In Beat 2, County Road 126 also known as Barefoot Road, and County Road 73 also known as Teoc Road, were both washed out. Strachan said there was also water crossing Highway 17 North near the J.Z. George football field.
In Beat 3, there was a washout on County Road 177, east of Highway 430 and as a result, a section of CR 177 between Highway 430 and County Road 220 was closed.
He also reported that a resident on County Road 148 had to be evacuated from her home Tuesday because of flooding and Highway 82 westbound had water crossing both lanes. The Mississippi Department of Transportation had to open up a drain and allow the water to recede.
In Beat 4, County Road 53 between County Roads 56 and 57 will be closed for a few weeks and there was a bridge underwater on County Road 376 in Beat 3.
Due to heavy rains, a steep bank gave away in Carrollton at the corner of Washington and College Streets. Strachan said County Road 316 was closed by the Carroll Academy Gymnasium because of the mud slide and water across the road.
“I’m getting in more roads from supervisors and as I get them it’ll be updated,” Strachan said.
