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Jefferson County hurricane guide

Jefferson County Emergency Management, in Fayette, prepares for, responds to, and helps the county recover from disasters. The county says its main hazards include large thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, large fires, and hazardous materials incidents. The county is inland and has no hurricane evacuation zones, but call emergency management before a storm to learn how you will get warnings.

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 Jefferson County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

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 601-786-8422 Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office 601-786-3403 Main office line in Fayette. For emergencies, call 911.
County information line 601-786-3021 Office line. Not for emergencies. Board of Supervisors, also the Road Department.

Official alerts and information

  • Jefferson County Emergency Management: The county's emergency management page. 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.

Jefferson County does not publish a shelter list. Do not go to a shelter until officials announce it is open. Call county emergency management to ask where shelter is available during a storm.

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
WQNZ 95.1 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WMAU-FM 88.9 FM English Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) public radio station licensed to Bude; the plan's second monitoring source for this area.
WAKH 105.7 FM English FM station licensed to McComb (North Shore Broadcasting). The plan names it the alternate source for stations that cannot receive WQNZ.

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
KIH48 162.550 MHz Bude

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.
  • Jefferson County Road Department: County roads and bridges, drainage, and trees on county rights-of-way. Phone: 601-786-3021. Website.
  • Jefferson County Solid Waste Department: Trash collection outside the Town of Fayette. Phone: 601-786-0258. 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, River Ridge Behavioral Health Services (Region 15): The mobile crisis team for Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties, 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: 888-558-2077. 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.