JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Mississippi Coliseum and state fairgrounds facilities in Jackson will be open to evacuees from Isaac. Coliseum manager Billy Orr has confirmed Governor Phil Bryant's declaration of emergency, issued Sunday, made that possible. The City of Jackson is preparing to open shelters should there be an overflow.
The coliseum, which was used effectively in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina almost seven years ago, has been cleaned out and readied for evacuees from Isaac.
"If it does happen on the coast as we have seen in the past, we intend to make everything here available, for as many people as we can put in here," said Orr.
Sandra Hodge, chief executive officer for the Red Cross in Mississippi, said her agency was ready to provide assistance.
"The Red Cross will play a role in making sure that the evacuees headed to Mississippi will have food, shelter, we will also have mental health and health services available at the shelters as well," said Hodge.
Jackson city spokesman Chris Mims said the city will handle any overflow of evacuees from the state.
"The City of Jackson has its crews on standby, personnel on standby and the City of Jackson is also prepared to open community centers for overflow if that is needed and requested by the state."
Stacy Covey, director of Pre-school and Children's Ministry at First Baptist Church in Richland, said her church would do whatever is necessary to provide for evacuees, as it did after Katrina.
"We cook here and we took care of everybody here the last time. And we will do whatever we can to meet the needs of our people here and our community throughout the state."
The coliseum will be available for Isaac evacuees as it was in the aftermath of Katrina, when some 1,200 evacuees were cared for at state facilities at the fairgrounds.
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