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Hinds County hurricane guide

Hinds County Emergency Management runs the county's Emergency Operations Center in Jackson and coordinates disaster response with the county's cities and towns. The county warns that hurricanes moving inland from the Mississippi Gulf Coast bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. If evacuation is needed in any part of the county, the Emergency Operations Center announces it on local radio and TV.

Checked on October 2, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Hinds County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Hinds County

  • Hinds County has outdoor warning sirens. A steady blast of three to five minutes means a threatened disaster or emergency. When the sirens sound, do not call 911. Turn on local radio or TV for instructions. Sirens are tested at noon on the first day of each month. See the siren location list.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Emergency management office 601-960-1476 Office line, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office main line 601-974-2900 Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office dispatch 601-352-1521 Hinds County Sheriff's Office Communications. For police matters that are not emergencies.
County road and bridge problems 601-857-7623 Hinds County Public Works pothole and road repair hotline. Also written 601-857-ROAD. After hours emergencies: 601-857-2600.

Official alerts and information

  • Hinds County Emergency Operations Center on Facebook: Emergency management updates, linked from the county EMA page. Website.
  • Hinds County Emergency Management: The county's official emergency management page, with severe weather checklists. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Hinds County does not post a shelter list online. Shelters are announced for each storm, so call Emergency Management at 601-960-1476 or follow official alerts to find out whether a shelter is open. Do not go to a shelter until it is announced as open.

Radio, TV and weather

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Radio stations

Station Frequency Language Notes
WMSI-FM 102.9 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (SP, LP1)
WMPN-FM 91.3 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (SP-2)

Emergency Alert System roles come from the Mississippi State EAS Plan, revised in October 2017, the newest public plan, with current station assignments from the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters.

NOAA Weather Radio

A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.

Station Frequency Transmitter
KIH38 162.400 MHz Jackson

TV stations

Station Channel Network Language
WLBT (WLBT 3 On Your Side) 3 NBC English
WAPT (16 WAPT) 16 ABC English
WDBD (Fox 40) 40 Fox English
WMPN-TV (Mississippi Public Broadcasting, MPB) 29 PBS English
WMAU-TV (Mississippi Public Broadcasting, MPB) 17 PBS English

Official forecasts

  • National Weather Service Jackson: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 601-936-2189. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Entergy Mississippi: Also written 800-9OUTAGE; available 24/7. Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-968-8243. Website.
  • Southwest Electric (Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-287-8564. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Where to start

  • 211 Mississippi: The 211 helpline for all 82 Mississippi counties, run by United Way of the Capital Area in Jackson. Free help finding food, housing, utility and rent help, disaster assistance, and other services, day or night. Dial 211 at any hour. You can also search for help online. Phone: 211. Website.

Housing and shelter

  • FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.

Food

  • Mississippi Food Network: Regional food bank for 56 counties in central, west, and south central Mississippi. Find a pantry near you on its site. Jackson office. Call or use the map on its Get Help page to find a pantry near you. Phone: 601-353-7286. Website.

Money, work and insurance

  • DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
  • SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.
  • Mississippi Center for Legal Services: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of 43 counties in central and south Mississippi. The link goes to the statewide legal help site run with North Mississippi Rural Legal Services. Intake Hotline. Phone: 1-800-519-2915. Website.

Emotional support

  • Mobile Crisis Response Team, Hinds Behavioral Health Services (Region 9): The mobile crisis team for Hinds County, run by the community mental health center and funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. Answered at any hour. A team can come to you during a mental health, alcohol and drug, or developmental disability crisis. You can also call or text 988. Phone: 601-955-6381. Website.
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.

Relief organizations

  • American Red Cross Southwest Mississippi Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 21 Mississippi counties, part of the Red Cross Alabama and Mississippi Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Flowood office, serving the Jackson area. Vicksburg office: 601-636-9182. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 601-353-5442. Website.

Cities and towns

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources

Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.