The so-called “icepocalypse” that hit Tallahatchie County and many other areas of the state beginning in the early-morning hours of Jan. 24 continuing through Jan. 25 was a devastating result of Winter Storm Fern.
Hardly anyone was untouched in some way by its fury: Trees falling onto homes, streets, roads and highways; limbs crashing to the ground onto cars, roofs and utility lines; widespread power outages due to limbs or the sheer weight of ice bringing down lines and snapping utility poles; water and phone service disrupted in some areas; and roads made hazardous by sheets of ice that memorably caused sections of Interstate 55 to be closed to motorists by authorities due to the danger.
We were told it was coming. We had some time to prepare, as best we can prepare here in the Deep South. We simply do not see this kind of weather very often.
Once every three decades is more than often enough!
Many people were without power for days; some, as of this writing, still are — almost three weeks later. Utility companies have been diligent, bringing in equipment and work crews from far beyond Mississippi to assist with infrastructure repair and restoration efforts here.
There has been a lot of stress and discomfort.
Some people had to leave homes due to damage. There were automobile accidents, vehicles sliding off ice-coated pavement into ditches and many other mishaps. Numerous local people slipped and fell on ice, suffering broken bones requiring medical attention.
Thankfully, despite a reported 29 tragic deaths around Mississippi attributed in some way to Fern, no storm-related fatalities were seen here in Tallahatchie. Not one Tallahatchie County soul was lost. That is the biggest headline, for which we are very thankful.
In fact, we have many reasons to be appreciative.
The Tallahatchie County Emergency Management Agency and Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office manned the Tallahatchie County Safe Room for one-and-a-half weeks to provide safe and warm lodging for storm victims. The very small TCEMA staff did yeoman's work. A local woman cooked and brought food to the Safe Room so there would be hot nourishment.
As always, the many dedicated, hardworking first responders worked long hours in difficult conditions. In that vein, numerous local elected officials spoke in glowing terms about how members of Tallahatchie's volunteer fire departments sprang into action, performing many services for their communities and residents.
Businesses, church groups and organizations from outside the immediate area rallied to our assistance, including the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based United Cajun Navy, who brought so many needed supplies; World Central Kitchen, who sent 150 hot plates a day to be served at five distribution centers in Tallahatchie County; disaster teams from state Baptists and Methodists; and even a food truck from Tchula.
Many local people of goodwill have come to the aid of neighbors and perfect strangers alike. Some have cut or dragged limbs off driveways and roads; helped clean up property; given a meal or a bottle of water; charged freezers so others’ food would not spoil; volunteered their time and/or muscle to relief efforts including loading, unloading and distributing supplies for the benefit of fellow Tallahatchians, and the list goes on and on. We will never know about some of the heroics and wonderful deeds.
In the end, the ice has melted, and so eventually will many of the troubles it has left behind. But as is the case for those who lived through the Great Ice Storm of 1994, memories of this one will be forever frozen in our minds.
