Miss. Gov. Barbour Asking Residents in Southern Locales to Evacuate Due to Ivan

In the last 24 hours, Gov. Haley Barbour urged Mississippians in the state’s three coastal counties to evacuate immediately in anticipation of Hurricane Ivan’s arrival, scheduled for late tonight or early Thursday morning.

“Anyone below I-10 needs to go north,” the Governor said during a press briefing at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. “This is a serious storm that has already killed many people. Please do not try to ride it out.”

The Gulf Coast counties of Jackson, Hancock, and Harrison will be enforcing mandatory evacuations. The Governor said people in low-lying areas and in mobile homes especially need to take precautions.

Gov. Barbour also urged Mississippians across the state to pitch in and help. “Hundreds and thousands of people live on the Gulf Coast and we currently only have shelters for 80,000,” the Governor noted. “This is the time when Mississippians, especially those who live north of I-20, need to open their homes to family and friends during this time of need.”

While residents leave the area seeking shelter, approximately 1,000 members of the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard were moving to South Mississippi to provide support such as search and rescue, evacuation of people from homes, clearing of trees and debris, and assistance to local and state law enforcement agencies.