JACKSON — Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency Thursday as Tropical Storm Karen was churning through the Gulf of Mexico.
Karen could be a strong tropical storm or weak hurricane when it makes landfall late tonight or early Saturday. A hurricane watch was posted Thursday from Grand Isle, La., to Indian Pass in the Florida Panhandle. That area includes Mississippi’s entire coastline.
The likelihood of strong winds and heavy rains in Mississippi’s southern counties created uncertainty about high school football games, and local officials will decide whether the games will be canceled or played.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham said residents and visitors alike should prepare for the storm. He said some areas could get 3 to 7 inches of rain.
Latham said residents should be ready to leave their homes in advance if they’re in flood-prone areas, and people across the coast should have family communication plans and emergency kits with bottled water, batteries and other supplies in case power goes out.
Thursday’s emergency declaration by the governor allows the state to send personnel and material to areas that might be affected.
“Now is the time for people to review their emergency plans in case conditions worsen,” Bryant said in a news release.
Coast casinos are communicating with local emergency officials about whether they’ll need to close.
