First DeSoto County storm-related death as recovery continues
Photo: Gov. Tate Reeves and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem chat with officials during Noem’s visit to the state on Monday. (Tate Reeves on X/Twitter)
PEARL, Miss. — The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) confirmed today (Monday) that the statewide death toll from the winter storm has climbed to 25 following two newly reported fatalities in Sharkey and DeSoto counties.
The loss in DeSoto County marks the first reported storm-related death for the region, though officials have yet to release specific details regarding the circumstances.
High-Level Coordination and Federal Support
Gov. Tate Reeves transitioned from the command center to the front lines today, surveying damage at a warming center in Alcorn County and the National Guard Armory in Tishomingo County. The governor also hosted U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, orchestrating a high-level briefing with FEMA, military leadership, and the exhausted linemen who have become the state’s most visible heroes.
“We are throwing every available resource at this recovery,” state officials noted, as 650 National Guard members remain deployed with high-wheeled vehicles and rescue equipment.
Infrastructure and the Power Struggle
The scale of the destruction is coming into sharper focus as 51 counties begin the painstaking process of damage assessment. Current data reveals a landscape of loss:
- 369 homes and 26 businesses damaged or destroyed.
- 20 farms were impacted, threatening the state’s agricultural backbone.
- 62 public roads sustained major damage, complicating the delivery of aid.
The battle for power, however, is yielding ground. Outages have been slashed from a staggering peak of 180,000 to approximately 38,900. To bridge the gap for those still in the dark, 80 warming centers remain operational across 51 counties, currently providing sanctuary for more than 1,000 residents.
Private Sector Intervention
The recovery effort received a high-tech infusion on Monday when Elon Musk’s xAI donated 500 generators to the relief cause. These units, along with 66 others installed at critical infrastructure sites, are proving vital as 41 counties continue to file urgent requests for meals, water, and climate-control equipment.
State agencies are operating in a state of total mobilization. The Mississippi Forestry Commission has teams on the ground in Tippah County for debris removal, while the Department of Health has established Medical Needs Shelters in Panola, Alcorn, and Lafayette counties to support those dependent on oxygen and specialized care.
As the ice thaws, the true cost of the January 2026 winter storm continues to fluctuate, but the resolve of the Magnolia State appears, for now, to be holding firm.
