He was correct. Elfer said Monday that the disaster was already devastating. The real work is the cleanup and recovery. This is a process that I can see going on for many years. I’ve never seen anything like it.” https://mississippitoday.org/flooding/
More than 700 buildings and homes have been surveyed in the south Delta for flood damage. In Warren County, 438 homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters. 156 houses suffered what adjusters call “major damage,” while 29 houses were completely destroyed. Elfer stated that the thing that made things worse was the length of time water stayed. Many of these houses could have survived a flash flooding. It’s difficult to save a house when there is five feet of water inside it for four months. This year, approximately 250,000 acres of Delta farmland was flooded, which caused farmers to miss their 2019 harvest and set them up for the 2020 harvest. Many farmers may not be able next year to recover from the financial consequences of missing an entire harvest year. Many roads in the state and county were left untouched by stagnant or flowing water for several weeks. They needed to be rebuilt completely. Some of these roads are still closed to the public. The flood caused car accidents that resulted in the deaths of three people, two adults and a pregnant woman from Yazoo County. Many in the Delta believe that the flood caused wildlife to flee, and they are now permanently endangered. Many people have spent thousands of money to clean up their houses or other properties. Non-profits and volunteer groups have stepped in to assist those who are unable to pay the bills. These same organizations helped to match residents who were displaced with housing until they could be settled in their own homes. Elfer stated that while federal disaster assistance was not easy to find for Mississippi residents, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency helped those affected by flooding. Warren County officials, in collaboration with non-profit groups such as Rubicon or the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), helped 119 people with tasks such as tearing down homes, removing trees and fixing septic tanks. This was all done free of cost. Officials in Warren County estimate that 246,896 cubic feet of trash remains uncollected. Elfer stated that the county will need 300 30 yard dumpsters to store that amount of trash. It will cost them approximately $180,000. Elfer stated that “a lot of people have stepped in to help, and that has been really encouraging.” It’s going to take a lot of work._x000D