Tupelo officials declare state of emergency from weekend storm
Apr. 5—TUPELO — Following the April 1 storm that spawned an EF-1 tornado and dealt significant damage to multiple commercial and industrial businesses along Green Street, city officials declared a state of emergency.
The Tupelo City Council voted unanimously among present members to declare a state of emergency for the city, following in line with the Lee County Board of Supervisors' declaration on Monday. Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan was absent.
While local officials and business owners continue to assess damage, the national weather service confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds of 110 miles per hour ripped through the county from Tupelo through Plantersville between 1:28 and 1:31 a.m. April 1.
Most of the damage in Tupelo proper occurred along Green Street, with Cooper Tire, the Northeast Mississippi Medical Center Women's Hospital and Leggett & Platt taking the brunt of the damage.
With the emergency declared, the city can make emergency purchases as they come up, Chief Operations Officer Don Lewis said. It also opens the door for federal reimbursement for up to 75% of the cost of debris removal if the state reaches its $5.2 million threshold in damages from the storm.
Lewis said he does not anticipate the city will meet the threshold and noted all of its clean up — baring business damage clean up — was complete.
