Storm Damages City of Oxford’s Power Lines, Homes and Cars

Severe thunderstorms rolling through Oxford, Miss.
Photo by Rusty Brown

The City of Oxford remained under a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service Friday, while residents recovered from Thursday night’s wind and downpour.

“We had significant power outages through parts of the city, and several houses hit, one with major damage, one apartment damaged and two vehicles crushed under a tree,” said the City of Oxford’s Emergency Management Director Jimmy Allgood.

According to reports, most of the storm damage was located on the eastern side of the city.

“We had several trees down, mostly on the east side of town,” said Oxford Police Major Kevin Stark. “Trees fell on power lines, roads, homes and cars.”

Storm damage off of Jackson Ave East in Oxford, Miss.
Photo by Hillary Houston

Fallen trees caused power outages throughout the eastern neighborhoods in Oxford, and some still remain dark.

“The Oxford Electric Department began working immediately after the storm restoring the electrical service,” said Allgood.  “We had the streets cleared and opened within a hour of the storm, but the electric department is still out working on the scattered areas that are still out.”

The Lafayette County Emergency Management Department stated most of north and east Lafayette County was under a severe thunderstorm warning until 12:15 p.m. today, leaving residents wet and waiting to clear debris.

“Molly Bar Road was closed with a tree down, as well as 16^th Street and Madison Avenue and Chickasaw Road,” Major Stark said. “Most of them (streets) are back up and running, but some will not be restored until early this afternoon.”

For more information, contact the City of Oxford’s Emergency Management Department: http://www.oxfordms.net/city-government/contact-list/234-emergency-management.html

Story by Hillary Houston, HottyToddy.com Associate Editor hrhousto@gmail.com