DESOTO COUNTY — Mississippi emergency officials said Friday that another storm-related death was reported in DeSoto County, raising the statewide death toll from severe winter weather to 29.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said thousands of residents remain without power in some of the hardest-hit areas as restoration work continues. MEMA said 41 counties have submitted 878 commodity requests during the event.
According to the agency, response teams have distributed 1,602,862 bottles of water, 395,198 meals, 16,304 blankets, 3,424 cots and 6,440 tarps. MEMA also said 17 shower trailers and six laundry trailers have been deployed.
The Mississippi State Department of Health continues operating two medical-needs shelters, one in Lafayette County and one in Panola County, while the Mississippi National Guard assists with refueling missions, generator movement and distribution site operations, MEMA said.
State officials encouraged would-be volunteers to work through verified disaster-response organizations before traveling to affected communities. MEMA said residents with immediate unmet needs should contact their county emergency management offices, and that updated information on distribution sites, warming centers, and shower and laundry locations is available on the agency’s January 2026 winter weather page.