Mississippi declared major disaster area; 84 dead

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 15

Mississippi declared major disaster area; 84 dead

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

JACKSON (Mississippi), February 23.

President Nixon has declared Mississippi a major disaster area after the tornadoes which ripped through the western part of the state and part of Louisiana, killing at least 84 persons.

Hundreds more have been injured and damage is expected to run into millions of dollars.

The President made his declaration in Washington last night at the request of Governor John Bell Williams of Mississippi, and thereby released Federal funds for use in the state for relief. Rescuers have recovered 78 bodies in scattered areas of Mississippi and six in Delhi, Louisiana.

Hospitals in the Mississippi delta country are overcrowded with injured. Other states

Tornadoes also struck in Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina and injuries were reported in both states, but no deaths. Most of the fatalities occurred in poor areas with badly-constructed homes. Authorities said that most of the residents did not own a radio or television set and therefore did not hear the tornado warnings broadcast by the Weather Bureau. About 20 more persons are feared to have died last night in the middle eastern states in fierce blizzards which dumped nearly 12 inches of snow on a 250-mile wide front.

The snowstorm, driven by strong winds, affected Oklahoma, southern Kansas,

eastern Nebraska, western Missouri and western lowa. Omaha, Nebraska, was paralysed, buses being withdrawn from the streets. Heart attacks

At least eight persons were reported to have died from heart attacks while shovelling snow or pushing cars in the city.

From Fayetteville in North Carolina, the Associated Press reported new destruction and death were caused by twisters that struck Fayetteville and Columbus, Ohio.

Two tornadoes hit Fayetteville and other parts of heavily-populated Cumberland county yesterday. At least two persons were killed, more than 30 persons were injured and property damage was said to be extensive.

Among places damaged were an orphanage where several children were reported injured slightly, and a veterans’ administration hospital.

Homes were reported destroyed, power and telephone lines were downed and numerous business places were severely damaged in Fayetteville. Other towns in the southern North Carolina country hit by twisters were Wade, Falcon, Eastover and Beard.

At least two tornadoes skipped through the densely-

populated east side of Columbus. Seven persons were reported injured and five buildings levelled as the twisters cut a three-block-wide path. The tornadoes, which may have numbered as many as 100 according to official estimates, moved through an area of Mississippi and Louisiana on Sunday, leaving hundreds homeless and virtually destroying the community of Inverness, Mississippi. Volunteers were probing the widespread rubble for more victims, especially at Inverness, a town of about 1100 residents 90 miles north, of Jackson. Ninety per cent of the! town’s business area was!

f blown apart and about 75 per cent of the residential area destroyed. Aid poured into the tor- ' nado-stricken delta, cos ordinated by the Red Cross, which set up refugee centres i in 10 towns. s Governor Williams flew 1 over the tornado area by i helicopter, calling the damage 1 a “disaster of major propor- ; tions.” 1 “I don’t think it was pos- - sible not to compare the - damage to Hurricane Camille,” Governor Williams ! said. “But it’s more spotted, r The experience of Camille t has been a factor in the way t relief efforts are going.” >. Several hundred people I died when Hurricane Camille slhit the Mississippi coast one si and one-half years ago.