Although assessments are still in the preliminary stages, weather and emergency officials are estimating that straight-line winds were the cause of damage – and at least one case of injury – sustained in Forrest and Lamar counties during the severe storms that passed through those areas in the early morning hours of May 13.
Meteorologist Ashlyn Jackson of the National Weather Service in Jackson said teams are currently in those areas determining the state of damage caused by the storm, which rolled through the northern parts of the counties at approximately 4:30 a.m. that morning.
“As of right now, we have a survey team out there looking at damage; it still looks like it’s the widespread straight-line wind damage,” she said. “As far as wind speeds, I’m seeing wind speeds estimated up to 90 miles per hour, and of course that’s just preliminary for right now.
“But they’re still out there in Hattiesburg and Petal, looking at some of the damage.”
Exact numbers, as far as damage to facilities or infrastructure, is not yet available.
In Forrest County, the storm felled multiple trees in the Leeville, Carterville and Macedonia communities, and several trees were still in roadways at approximately 6:30 a.m. One person was injured in Macedonia after a tree fell on a home in that community.
Glen Moore, director of the Forrest County Emergency Management Agency, said it was still too early to determine whether the damage was caused by straight-line winds or by a possible tornado.
“The (National) Weather Service will probably look at it later,” he said. “Right now, we’re just responding and trying to clear up roads.”
Parts of Lamar County also sustained damage, including the Sonic restaurant on Old Highway 11 in Oak Grove, where part of the awning collapsed after being hit by high winds. Several trees also were felled in the northern part of the county, including on JD Hatten Road in Sumrall, causing damage to some homes in that area.
“It’s kind of up in that northwestern part of the county – the Hickory Grove community, up in that area,” said James Smith, director of the Lamar County Emergency Management Agency. “No injuries were reported.”
