Yalobusha County Declares Local Emergency As Winter Storm Approaches
Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock warned that cell towers could be impacted by the winter storm.
The Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency in preparation for the weekend winter storm during a meeting Thursday morning.
The decision followed an extended briefing by Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock, with additional guidance from Yalobusha County EMA Director Stewart Spence. By declaring a local emergency, the county is temporarily exempt from normal bid requirements, allowing supervisors to immediately hire contractors, rent equipment or secure services needed to protect public safety and restore critical infrastructure. It also allows county crews to take necessary action on private property when required to protect public safety, prevent broader damage or restore essential services.
Spence also reported that the Multi-Purpose Building in Coffeeville will be used as a warming shelter if needed, and that additional sites may also be opened depending on conditions.
McGavock opened his remarks by contrasting the current forecast with the 1994 ice storm, noting that while technology has changed, it has also created new vulnerabilities.
“The difference between today and ’94 is cell phones,” McGavock said. “People think, ‘I’ll just call somebody if there’s a problem.’”
He warned supervisors that heavy ice accumulation creates extreme structural stress comparable to sustained hurricane-force winds and said cell phone towers are especially vulnerable, noting that towers have failed in past storms with far less wind.
“Those towers are not designed to take that kind of load,” McGavock said. “If we lose towers, communication becomes a serious issue very quickly.”
McGavock strongly recommended that the board declare an emergency before conditions deteriorate.
“I suggest you do it now,” he said. “We already have. The main reason is to get your name in the hat.”
He told supervisors he expected the governor to declare a statewide emergency and said the storm could qualify for federal disaster assistance due to its size and geographic scope. However, he cautioned that FEMA assistance does not arrive as immediate cash.
“They don’t show up and write you a check,” McGavock said. “It’s a reimbursement program. If we don’t document what we do, we won’t get reimbursed for anything.”
A large portion of McGavock’s remarks focused on documentation, stressing that every hour worked, vehicle used and piece of equipment deployed must be recorded.
“If you don’t write down the hours the road crews work, you don’t get reimbursed,” he said. “If you don’t document the vehicles used, you don’t get reimbursed.”
He urged the board to establish a centralized system for tracking expenses and resources.
“Get a box, get a folder — every receipt, every resource, every request goes in it,” McGavock said. “Later, we can sort it out. But if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen as far as FEMA’s concerned.”
Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the emergency proclamation, allowing county officials to move quickly as conditions develop. County and emergency management officials said preparations will continue through the weekend, with response efforts adjusted as weather and infrastructure conditions change, and a decision is expected Sunday on whether courthouse offices will open Monday.
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