15th tropical depression of season moves through open Atlantic
The Associated Press
The 15th tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season moved slowly through the open ocean early Friday, forecasters said.
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TRACKING AND FORECAST MAPS
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Hurricane information
Officials say plan now
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Hurricane plan
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Start making your crisis plan so business keeps going
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Follow these tips to strengthen your existing home
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Evacuation plan
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Crisis communication
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After the storm
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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LINKS
Harrison County Emergency Management Agency- Jackson County Emergency Management Agency
- Pearl River County Emergency Management Agency
- Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
- Federal Emergency Managment Agency
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PHONE NUMBERS
- George County: (601) 947-7557
- Hancock County: (228) 466-8200
- Harrison County: (228) 865-4002
- Jackson County: (228) 769-3111
- Pearl River County: (601) 795-3058
- Stone County: (601) 928-3077
Hurricane
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Melissa down to tropical depression
Tropical Storm Melissa weakened into a depression Sunday far out in the open Atlantic while the remnants of Tropical Storm Karen dwindled away in the central Atlantic, forecasters said.
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Southern Miss Gulf Coast cancels Saturday classes
The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast announced today that it will close classes and library services on Saturday in expectation of severe weather.
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Biloxi opening storm shelters
The city is opening an emergency storm shelter at North Bay Elementary School on Popps Ferry Road at 5 p.m. today and residents living in FEMA trailers are encouraged to evacuate. Additional shelters are opening throughout Harrison County.
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Jackson County issues evacuation order for mobile homes, campers, RVs and beachfront
At 2: 30 p.m., Jackson County issued a mandatory evacuation for people living in mobile homes, campers and RVs or along low-lying areas of the beachfront. This includes FEMA trailers and Mississippi Cottages. They are advised to seek higher ground and safer dwellings.
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Casinos watching weather, staying open
The Mississippi Gaming Commission has directed the Coast casinos to "tie down for safety purposes anything on their property," and notify their employees who live in low-lying areas to be alert to weather conditions as the storm approaches.
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Seven South Mississippi football games cancelled or postponed
Impending bad weather along the Mississippi, Florida and Alabama coast has forced the cancellation or postponement of several South Mississippi high school football games on Friday night.
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Harrison County recommends evacuating FEMA trailers; shelters open at 5 p.m.
The Harrison County Emergency Management Agency is gearing up after this morning's issuance of a tropical storm warning, meaning tropical storm conditions are expected to impact the area within 24 hours. It plans to open shelters at 5 p.m. today.
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Evacuations recommended for those in trailers; Jackson County shelters will open at 5 p.m.
Officials with the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency are recommending that people who live in FEMA trailers and in low-lying areas find another place to ride out this weekend's storm.
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Tropical storm warnings issued for Gulf Coast
Tropical storm warnings were posted this morning for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast as a subtropical depression formed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said.
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South Mississippi under coastal flood watch today and tonight
The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a coastal flood watch for today and tonight in South Mississippi due to an approaching low pressure system that could bring heavy rain to this area.
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Barrier islands closed because of possible storm
Officials with the Gulf Islands National Seashore have closed the five barrier islands in anticipation of tropical weather in South Mississippi by the weekend.
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Hancock County to give out sandbags
Emergency officials in Hancock County will begin handing out sandbags at 3 p.m. today, said Brian Adam, director of the emergency management agency.
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Officials still watching low lurking over Florida
State and local emergency managers are encouraging South Mississippi residents to monitor closely the weather system in Florida to see where it goes and how strong it gets.
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Felix gathers strength
Hurricane Felix gathered strength Saturday and pounded Grenada with heavy rains and winds, snapping small boats loose from their moorings and toppling utility poles on its route toward the Caribbean island of Aruba.
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Tropical Storm Felix strengthens in Caribbean
Tropical Storm Felix approached hurricane strength today as it moved through the eastern Caribbean Sea, forecasters said.
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Officials say plan now
Emergency managers throughout South Mississippi are urging residents to begin preparing now for hurricane season, which begins June 1.
Terms to know
- Tropical depression - A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 38 mph or less.
- Tropical storm - A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 39-73 mph.
- Hurricane Watch - An announcement for an area that a hurricane or hurricane conditions may pose a threat to coastal areas within 36 hours.
- Hurricane warning - A warning that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher associated with a hurricane is expected within 24 hours or less.
Costliest hurricanes
Hurricanes leave havoc in their wake. The 10 costliest to hit the U.S. mainland:- Katrina - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 2005, $75 billion
- Andrew - Florida and Louisiana, 1992, $35 billion.
- Hugo - South Carolina, 1989, $7 billion.
- Floyd - Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, 1999, $4.5 billion.
- Fran - North Carolina, 1996, $3.2 billion.
- Opal - Florida and Alabama, 1995, $3 billion.
- Georges - Florida Keys, Mississippi and Alabama, 1998, $2.31 billion.
- Frederic - Alabama and Mississippi, 1979, $2.3 billion.
- Agnes - Florida, Northeast U.S., 1972, $2.1 billion.
- Alicia - Texas, 1983, $2 billion.
Deadliest hurricanes
