Jones County hurricane guide¶
The Jones County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), at 22 Mason Street in Laurel, houses county emergency management staff, the E-911 dispatch center, and the county fire coordinator. It works with law enforcement, fire, EMS, and local governments to prepare for disasters. The county is inland and has no hurricane evacuation zones. The EOC lists hurricanes among the county's most common disasters, with threats such as powerful winds, heavy rain, inland flooding, and tornadoes.
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 Jones County Emergency Operations Center. 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 | 601-649-3535 | Office line. Not for emergencies. Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 601-425-3147 | For police matters that are not emergencies. Answered 24 hours. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Jones County Emergency Operations Center: The county EOC's website, with storm preparation advice. Website.
- Jones County Sheriff's Department app: The Sheriff's Department's free phone app. 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.
Jones County does not publish a shelter list online. Do not go to a shelter until officials announce it is open. Call the Emergency Operations Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WXRR | 104.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WMAH-FM | 90.3 FM | English | Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) public radio station licensed to Biloxi; the plan's second monitoring source for this area. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| KIH47 | 162.475 MHz | Hattiesburg |
| KIH49 | 162.550 MHz | Meridian |
| WNG640 | 162.425 MHz | Leakesville |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WDAM-TV (WDAM 7) | 7 | NBC | English |
| WDAM-TV (WDAM 7 ABC) | 7.2 | ABC | English |
| WHLT (WHLT 22) | 22 | CBS | English |
| WLHA-LD (Telemundo Pine Belt) | 18.1 | Telemundo | Spanish |
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¶
- Mississippi Power: Customer Care Center, also for downed power lines. Assume every downed line is live and stay away. To report an outage by text, text OUT to MSPwr (67797) after signing up for Outage Alerts. Phone: 800-532-1502. Website.
- Dixie Electric Power Association: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 601-425-2535. 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.
Legal help¶
- 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, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources (Region 12 North Team): The mobile crisis team for 10 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: 888-330-7772. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross Southeast Mississippi Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 28 Mississippi counties, part of the Red Cross Alabama and Mississippi Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Gulfport main office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Other offices: Hattiesburg 601-582-8151, Meridian 601-485-5151, Pascagoula 228-762-2455. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 228-896-4511. 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.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://joneseoc.com/
- https://www.jonesso.com/
- https://www.jonesso.com/app
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/MSC067
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WXRR
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WMAH
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WDAM-TV
- https://www.wdam.com/2026/01/10/wdam-7s-weekend-sports-offerings-include-nfl-wildcard-football-winter-sports/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WHLT
- https://www.telemundopinebelt.com/
- https://www.mississippipower.com/residential/power-outages---storm-center/outage-alerts.html
- https://www.dixieepa.com/outages-safety/outage-management-center/report-an-outage/
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- https://www.sba.gov/disaster/
- https://www.dmh.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CMHC-Crisis-Services-Flyer.pdf
- https://www.myunitedway.com/211
- https://www.msfoodnet.org/help/
- https://www.mslegalservices.org/
- https://www.redcross.org/local/al-ms/about-us/locations/southeast-mississippi.html