FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2008

GOVERNOR BARBOUR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO THREAT OF RISING WATERS

(JACKSON, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 33 Mississippi counties in anticipation of flooding of the Mississippi River, Yazoo River, and tributaries caused by rising waters due to rainfall in the upper Mississippi River Basin and Ohio River Basin.

“Today, I am issuing this State of Emergency as a relief measure to ensure that Mississippians who have already been affected or will be affected by the rising waters will have necessary resources readily available to them,” Governor Barbour said. “I urge residents in these areas to take immediate steps in order to prevent injury or loss of property.”

The full text of the Governor’s State of Emergency is listed below.

WHEREAS, areas of the State of Mississippi have been and continue to be affected by ongoing and projected flooding of the Mississippi River, Yazoo River and its tributaries beginning on April 4, 2008 as a result of rising waters due to rain in the upper Mississippi River Basin and Ohio River Basin impacting Adams, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Claiborne, Chickasaw, Coahoma, Desoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leflore, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wilkinson, Yalobusha, Yazoo and other affected counties in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, this storm system and resulting flooding has caused damage to homes, businesses, public property, and threatened the safety of the citizens and property throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the health and safety of the residents and the protection of their property within the affected areas, and in the public interest, all steps should be taken to protect people and property.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, Governor of the State of Mississippi, pursuant to the authority vested in me under the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Section 33-15-11-(b) (17), Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, and in the public interest and for the general welfare, do hereby proclaim a State of Emergency to exist in the areas of the State of Mississippi affected by this severe weather system. The provisions of this proclamation shall exist and remain in effect until such time as this threat to public safety shall cease to exist as prescribed in Section 33-15-11(b)(17), Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.

FURTHER, all agencies of the State of Mississippi shall discharge their emergency responsibilities as deemed necessary as set forth in the Executive Order No. 653, dated November 16, 1990 and the State of Mississippi’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.