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Kemper County hurricane guide

The Kemper County Emergency Management Agency, led by a part-time director, plans for disasters and works with MEMA and FEMA for the county and the towns of DeKalb and Scooba. The county is inland and has no hurricane evacuation zones. The county says its main risks are severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods, so remnants of a hurricane can still bring dangerous wind and flooding.

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

What to know in Kemper County

  • Kemper County and the towns of DeKalb and Scooba take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, so flood insurance is available to residents. The county EMA director is the local floodplain manager.

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 601-527-2393 EMA director. Not for emergencies.
County information line 601-743-8375 Office line. Not for emergencies. Courthouse, administrative building, and Road and Bridge.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency 601-743-2255 For police matters that are not emergencies. Answered 24 hours.
County roads and bridges 601-743-8375 Kemper County Roads and Bridges Department, for county roads.

Official alerts and information

  • Kemper Alerts: Free Nixle alerts by text message. Sign up before a storm. Text your ZIP code to 888-777, or create an account online. Website.
  • Kemper County Sheriff's Office alerts: Text or email alerts from the Sheriff's Office. Website.
  • Kemper 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.

Kemper County does not publish a shelter list. Do not go to a shelter until officials announce it is open. Sign up for Kemper Alerts and call the county EMA 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
WJDQ 101.3 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WMAW-FM 88.1 FM English Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) public radio station licensed to Meridian; 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
KIH49 162.550 MHz Meridian
WXL72 162.475 MHz Demopolis

TV stations

Station Channel Network Language
WTOK-TV (WTOK News 11) 11 ABC English
WMDN (CBS 24, Twin States News) 24 CBS English
WGBC (Fox 30, Twin States News) 30 Fox English
WGBC (NBC 30) 30.2 NBC English
WMAW-TV (Mississippi Public Broadcasting, MPB) 14 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

  • East Mississippi Electric Power Association (EMEPA): Main office line. The cooperative does not publish a separate outage line. Phone: 601-581-8600. 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, Weems Community Mental Health Center (Region 10): The mobile crisis team for 9 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: 800-803-0245. 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.

Sources

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