Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a state of emergency and an executive order authorizing the use of the Mississippi National Guard as Tropical Storm Nate advances to the Gulf of Mexico.

At 10 a.m., the National Hurricane Center issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for the Mississippi Coast which means hurricane conditions are expected in the next 36 hours. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Nate to be a Category 1 storm (winds near 80 mph) and 3-6 feet of storm surge above ground. Landfall is projected to be late Saturday night/early Sunday morning.

The State Emergency Operations Center was activated to Level 3 (partial with key state agencies) at 7 a.m. this morning. The SEOC will move to a full Level 2 activation Saturday morning and run 24-hour operations as long as necessary.

“It is important for all Mississippians and visitors to our state to take this storm seriously,” Bryant said. “Regardless of where the storm makes actual landfall, we face the possibility of widespread power outages and storm surge flooding. I ask everyone to please have a plan, especially those that live in mobile homes and low-lying areas.”

Residents with questions about Nate preparations on the coast can call the county emergency management offices:
Hancock Co. 228-255-0942
Harrison Co. 228-865-4002
Jackson Co. 228-769-3111

A state of emergency is an administrative tool that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in storm response efforts.