First responders and emergency agencies have provided food and other necessities to around 100 travelers that have been stranded along icy Interstate 55 in Copiah and Lincoln county since Tuesday afternoon.

“After last night’s winter weather events across the division, many roadways, as expected, were blocked or iced over,” said Thad Hicks, emergency disaster services director for The Salvation Army division serving Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Hicks, who is based in Jackson, headed south on I-55 after getting a call from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to assist. “Basically around the Copiah County mile marker 50 and Lincoln County mile markers 20 to 25, it was backed up with a 100 or more semi trucks,” he said.

“I purchased a hundred sandwiches and passed them out to motorists. We have two units down here” with snacks, food and water, he said, noting The Salvation Army partnered with the Red Cross to provide help.

“Some of those trucks had been there since 4 or 5 o’clock yesterday according to emergency management,” Hicks said early Wednesday afternoon.

“The sandwiches had gotten cold, but people were glad to get them if they hadn’t eaten anything in a day.”

Hicks said the motorists stranded were primarily commercial truckers. “Those that had gotten stuck had bottled everything up. With even a slight incline, the trucks weren’t able to get up it because of ice,” he said.

Hicks said he didn’t see many private cars or pickups, and those private vehicles that were on the interstate were abandoned in the ditches and off the road. “The highway patrol was going in and marking them with danger tape,” he said to keep them secure.

“There was a family stuck at the rest area around exit 50, but by the time we got there, they had gotten somebody there to come get them,” he added.

“We left Jackson this morning early, and within 15 to 20 miles, we encountered stranded people. I got down as far as exit 20 (at Summit).”

“Things are moving a lot better now,” Hicks reported from the road round 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“My fear is all of this stuff is going to refreeze tonight, and we may encounter the same exact thing tomorrow. People need to stay off the road.”

But if the need for assistance arises again, Hicks said The Salvation Army stands ready. “If they need help, we’ll respond.”