Jackson, Mississippi The capital of Mississippi is battling a number of water issues. After floods aggravated preexisting issues in one of two water-treatment facilities, tens of thousands of Jackson residents were without flowing water on Tuesday.
Tate Reeves, the governor of Mississippi, said late on Monday that he will make a proclamation on Tuesday establishing a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system. The treatment facility, which was running at a reduced capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps broke “some time ago,” would attempt to be fixed by the state by recruiting contractors, Reeves said.
President Biden has granted Reeves’ request for a federal emergency declaration, the White House said late on Tuesday night.
According to a statement from the White House, the declaration gives the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency permission to “coordinate all disaster relief efforts with the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.”
Reeves ordered the National Guard to assist and said that the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency would begin delivering both potable and non-potable water.
Due to hazy water that the Health Department discovered and believed would cause stomach issues, the 150,000-person city had previously been on a boil-water advisory for one month.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at a news conference on Tuesday that the city is delighted to get the state’s assistance after fighting “the Jackson water issue” on its own for the last two years. He said that rather than whether the system will collapse, the question was when.
Lumumba lamented the lack of a long-term commitment from authorities to update or replace Jackson’s water infrastructure. He predicted that the system will need around $1 billion in improvements.
A few days of low water pressure may be expected, according to Lumumba, a Democrat who was not invited to the Republican governor’s press conference. However, by Tuesday, he claimed that some consumers were getting service again.
The system has been improving steadily, Lumumba said.
The governor said on Monday that he recognizes Jackson residents’ dissatisfaction with the city’s water system issues.
“I understand it. I reside in a city. I don’t want to hear this news, “Reeves said. But we’ll be there for you, I promise.
The low pressure caused individuals to worry about battling fires and using the restroom or showering. On the other hand, Lumumba said on Tuesday that there had been no reports of firemen experiencing water supply concerns.
Days after storms poured copious amounts of rain, Jackson’s Pearl River inundated streets and at least one house on Monday, but water levels were beginning to subside. The water didn’t surge as far as anticipated, according to Lumumba. According to earlier predictions, floods may potentially affect 100 to 150 structures in the Jackson neighborhood.
The Pearl River crested at roughly 35.4 feet, below the major flood stage elevation of 36 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The bigger of Jackson’s two water treatment facilities is located next to a reservoir that supplies the majority of the city’s water supply. Additionally, the reservoir aids with flood prevention.
According to the station, state health officer Dr. Daniel Edney advised people to boil their water for one minute before consuming it.
Due to the water issues, Jackson public schools shifted to online instruction on Tuesday, according to WJTV.
Jackson’s water system has long been plagued by issues. A substantial number of individuals were left without running water in 2021 due to pipes freezing. Smaller versions of the same issues cropped up again towards the beginning of this year. Because testing revealed a hazy condition to the water that might cause health issues, the city has been under a boil-water advisory since late July.
The most recent water system issues in Jackson sparked worry among legislative leaders.
Republican Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann suggested the state play a part in attempting to remedy the problem in a statement released on Monday, saying, “We have major concerns about residents’ health and safety.”
Hospitals, companies, and schools have been in touch with Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, he said, “pleading that something be done to alleviate the water situation in Jackson.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, said to reporters on Tuesday that the federal government is ready to assist Mississippi in dealing with the water situation.
She told reporters on board Air Force One, “We stand ready and we are glad to help further as soon as we get an official request from the state. She refused to disclose why the state hasn’t approached FEMA for assistance with trucking in drinking water.
“I am unable to speak on behalf of Mississippi. You’d have to enquire of them, “She spoke. Despite not knowing the specifics of discussions between President Joe Biden and local or state officials, Jean-Pierre said that White House representatives had spoken with local authorities and the state Health Department.
The flooding in Mississippi was not as bad as the storm that wreaked havoc and killed people in Kentucky last month. At least 39 people died as a result of the floods, and hundreds more families lost all they had. Residents are debating whether to rebuild where they now call home or to relocate over a month later.