As schools canceled and the governor issued a state of emergency, the meeting room at the Columbia Police Department was crowded Monday and Tuesday mornings while officials planned for Tropical Storm Gordon.
Representatives from the city’s water, street, sewer, fire and police departments joined others from the Columbia School District, Marion General Hospital and the Board of Aldermen as they met to discuss the impending storm and listen to forecasts.
“We’re doing everything we can for the street side,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said. “We’re sandbagging at the museum and other city-owned properties. Michael (McDaniel) and his crews have been working on the sewer system. They have been capping old lines on properties where houses have been torn down to prevent problems.”
Street department crews worked feverishly on Tuesday ahead of the storm, trying to make sure brush and limbs were cleared from where people had put them out after working in yards over the extended Labor Day weekend.
“They have been pulling two trailers all over town,” McKenzie said. “We’ve had the street sweeper out cleaning gutters along the streets.
John Moore of the National Weather Service briefed officials Tuesday morning via teleconference telling the group that the storm was predicted to make landfall in Mississippi Tuesday evening.
“There are inland tropical warnings for the Pine Belt,” he told emergency management personnel from across the state. “The major threat is rainfall and flooding. There is a low tornado threat. There is also and elevated wind threat in the Pine Belt that could cause trees and power lines to go down.”
The threat of flash flooding will continue in the region through Thursday.
Crews from the Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association were also busy preparing so that employees could respond to any power outages as soon as it was safe to do so.
“After the storm passes, employees will assess overall damage to the system and begin implementing plans for restoring power to all members as well as vital community services,” spokesman Kurt Brautigam said in a statement. “If there is extensive damage, restoration efforts may take several days. Outside crews from neighboring utilities can be brought in for assistance if necessary.”
Tuesday morning Gov. Phil Bryant issued a State of Emergency ahead of the storm and signed an executive order authorizing the use of the Mississippi National Guard. The National Guard had personnel pre-positioned in the lower six counties of Mississippi.
“Gordon will bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening storm surge to our Coast, along with flash flooding and isolated tornadoes further north,” Bryant said. “All residents must take this storm seriously and act on the expertise of your local officials.”
City street department and fire department employees spent part of Tuesday pre-placing barricades so they could be quickly erected if flood waters rise. The Columbia Police Department’s conference room was being staffed during the storm to act as the city’s operations center. Officials also tested generators at City Hall.
The Columbia and Marion County schools both canceled classes for Wednesday in anticipation of possible damage from Gordon.
“We can’t roll the buses if trees are down and there are any dangers to our students,” Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris said.
Pictured Above: Columbia and Marion County officials listen during a National Weather Service briefing Tuesday morning. | Photo by Mark Rogers
