Nearly 3 million bottles of water were distributed by Mississippi agencies in response to Jackson’s water emergency, according to state officials. The water was supplied by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and was distributed by members of the Mississippi National Guard. The distribution began at noon Thursday and the numbers were tallied at about 3 p.m. Friday, state officials said.”When that 18-wheeler arrives on-site, we get the water on the line,” said Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles.Gov. Tate Reeves declared an emergency and activated the guard, which deployed 600 soldiers to the city of Jackson and surrounding areas. Boyles said about 50 soldiers are at each of the seven state-run distribution sites handing out water. The rest of the guardsmen are assisting with the operation.”With any military operation, you know, it requires a little bit of logistical support to make that happen,” Boyles said. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was in Jackson Friday to see what’s being done to get the situation under control and determine how the federal government can continue to help.President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved the governor’s request for a federal emergency declaration in response to Jackson’s water crisis. “There’s money to deal with this problem,” Biden said Thursday. “We’ve given them the EPA. We’ve given them everything there is to offer.”Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar said Thursday during a joint news conference with the governor that local, state and federal agencies are working together “to ensure that we keep the most primary focus on the residents of Jackson.”The mayor said “positive gains” have been made in the system — a day after an emergency rental raw water pump was installed at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. The mayor said the J.H. Fewell Water Treatment Plant is running at normal capacity, and the city well water system tanks are stable.Residents are still advised to boil their water for drinking, cooking and cleaning dishes. You don’t need to boil water for washing clothes, hands or when bathing. Drinking water and non-potable water are being distributed at several sites around Jackson. Jackson residents on the city surface water system have already been under a boil-water notice for weeks. Residents on the city’s well water system have not been affected.According to Lumumba, the city’s ongoing water issues result from decades of deferred maintenance and staffing shortages.
Nearly 3 million bottles of water were distributed by Mississippi agencies in response to Jackson’s water emergency, according to state officials.
The water was supplied by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and was distributed by members of the Mississippi National Guard. The distribution began at noon Thursday and the numbers were tallied at about 3 p.m. Friday, state officials said.
“When that 18-wheeler arrives on-site, we get the water on the line,” said Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles.
Gov. Tate Reeves declared an emergency and activated the guard, which deployed 600 soldiers to the city of Jackson and surrounding areas. Boyles said about 50 soldiers are at each of the seven state-run distribution sites handing out water. The rest of the guardsmen are assisting with the operation.
“With any military operation, you know, it requires a little bit of logistical support to make that happen,” Boyles said.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was in Jackson Friday to see what’s being done to get the situation under control and determine how the federal government can continue to help.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved the governor’s request for a federal emergency declaration in response to Jackson’s water crisis.
“There’s money to deal with this problem,” Biden said Thursday. “We’ve given them the EPA. We’ve given them everything there is to offer.”
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar said Thursday during a joint news conference with the governor that local, state and federal agencies are working together “to ensure that we keep the most primary focus on the residents of Jackson.”
The mayor said “positive gains” have been made in the system — a day after an emergency rental raw water pump was installed at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant.
The mayor said the J.H. Fewell Water Treatment Plant is running at normal capacity, and the city well water system tanks are stable.
Residents are still advised to boil their water for drinking, cooking and cleaning dishes. You don’t need to boil water for washing clothes, hands or when bathing. Drinking water and non-potable water are being distributed at several sites around Jackson.
Jackson residents on the city surface water system have already been under a boil-water notice for weeks. Residents on the city’s well water system have not been affected.
According to Lumumba, the city’s ongoing water issues result from decades of deferred maintenance and staffing shortages.
