Key Points
- Statewide Death Toll: The total number of fatalities linked to the severe winter weather has climbed to 29 following a newly reported death in DeSoto County.
- Critical Aid Distribution: MEMA has fulfilled over 870 requests for commodities, delivering more than 1.6 million bottles of water and 395,000 meals to 41 counties.
- Ongoing Utility Struggle: Thousands of residents remain without electricity as linemen and the National Guard work to restore power and move heavy-duty generators to critical infrastructure.
JACKSON, Miss. — The human cost of the relentless winter weather gripping the Magnolia State continued to rise Friday as the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) confirmed a second storm-related death in DeSoto County.
The latest fatality brings the statewide death toll to 29 as Mississippi enters its second week of recovery following the catastrophic impacts of the January 2026 winter weather event. While local authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased or the specific circumstances of the passing, the loss underscores the lingering danger posed by subfreezing temperatures and crippled infrastructure.
“Sadly, another death has been reported in DeSoto County,” MEMA officials stated in a Friday update. The county previously reported its first storm-related death earlier this week, as the state’s northern tier bore the brunt of the historic ice and snow accumulation.
A Massive Logistical Lift
MEMA, alongside the Mississippi National Guard and federal partners, has launched a massive logistics operation to sustain tens of thousands of residents still reeling from the storm. To date, 41 counties have filed 878 formal requests for emergency commodities…