06/17/2026
URGENT WEATHER UPDATE — June 18, 2026 (7:05 AM)
IMMEDIATE LIFE-SAFETY WARNINGS IN EFFECT
• TORNADO WARNING: A National Weather Service Tornado Warning is in effect for our immediate area until 7:45 AM CDT. Take shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of your home immediately. Please keep watching local news sources and your NOAA weather radios for real-time tracking.
• FLASH FLOOD WARNING: A Flash Flood Warning is also actively in effect until 10:00 AM CDT. Saturated ground conditions mean that torrential downpours are causing immediate, dangerous flooding on roadways.
CRITICAL ROAD CLOSURES & SAFETY HAZARDS
The following areas are currently NOT PASSABLE. Do not attempt to travel down these roadways where you see barricades and/or flooding:
• S. Beech Street
• Jackson Landing Road
• Bruce Street
• Additional streets will be added to this list as they are reported to emergency personnel.
Other information:
Our Public Works, Fire Department, and Police Department have been out on the streets all night and throughout the early morning monitoring road conditions, checking neighborhood water levels, and handling storm-related hazards.
Update: Crews are currently on-site actively managing and clearing a downed tree in the Loftin St area.
Community Report Request: While conditions are currently stable overall, weather can change rapidly from neighborhood to neighborhood. If you live within the city limits and are experiencing street flooding or a downed tree that our crews have not reached yet, please update us by calling Central Dispatch directly at 601-749-5482 or Public Works at 601-798-0031 so we can route teams effectively.
Weather Status & Outlook
• Other Active Watches: A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 8:00 AM this morning. A Flood Watch also remains in active effect through Friday morning.
• Radar: The system is currently spinning directly over our region. Expect rounds of on-and-off heavy rain to continue through the morning and into the afternoon, with conditions expected to begin tapering off around 3:30 PM today. Because the ground is completely saturated from Tuesday's weather, any heavy downpours will cause immediate runoff.
• Creek Levels: Emergency management continues to closely monitor the levels of Boley Creek, as rising creek levels directly impact and accelerate localized flooding within the city limits.
URGENT PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE
• Stay Home: Residents are strongly urged to stay home and off the roadways today if at all possible to allow emergency crews clear access to monitor and clear hazards.
• Turn Around, Don't Drown: Do not attempt to drive down any streets today if you see water covering the roadway. It is impossible to judge the depth of moving water or the condition of the road underneath.
Operational Reminders for Today
• City Office Closures: As a reminder, all non-essential city personnel are remaining home today. Essential public safety, drainage, and emergency response crews remain fully deployed. Picayune Municipal Court (5000 Wildwood Dr.) is officially cancelled for today, Thursday, June 18.
• Saferoom: The Picayune Community Saferoom located at 501 Laurel Street remains open for anyone seeking secure shelter from the weather.
Public Safety Contacts
• Emergencies: Dial 911 immediately.
• To Report Localized Storm Issues: To reach public safety dispatch for non-life-threatening storm issues or to report street conditions, call Central Dispatch directly at 601-749-5482.
We will continue to update this post as conditions evolve or following the next major National Weather Service briefing. To get these updates pushed directly to your phone via text or email, please visit www.picayune.ms.us and sign up for the "Notify Me" feature.
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UPDATE June 17, 2026 — 4:35 PM
All details from our previous briefing remain active and unchanged, with the following official operational updates added for tomorrow, Thursday, June 18:
Municipal Closures & Personnel Status
• Non-Essential Personnel: All non-essential city personnel will remain home tomorrow, Thursday, June 18. Essential emergency, public works, and public safety crews will remain fully active on the lines.
• Municipal Court Cancelled: Picayune Municipal Court, located at 5000 Wildwood Drive, has cancelled court for tomorrow, Thursday, June 18.
Public Safety Contacts
If you experience an emergency or require immediate assistance during this weather event, please utilize the appropriate communications channels:
• Emergency Situations: As always, dial 911 immediately.
• Non-Emergency Requests: For all non-emergency calls requiring public safety dispatch, please contact Central Dispatch directly at 601-749-5482.
Ongoing Staging & Safety Reminders
All sandbag staging, saferoom shelter, and damage self-reporting resources detailed in our earlier update remain fully in effect. Sandbags will be available tomorrow from 10 am to 6 pm in the same locations.
We expect conditions to intensify as Tropical Storm Arthur pushes inland. Please visit our website at www.picayune.ms.us to track adjustments on our alert banner or sign up for the "Notify Me" feature to receive emergency text and email alerts sent directly to your phone.
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June 17, 2026 — 11:20 AM Weather and Preparation Update – Please SHARE!!! This includes what to expect, what is happening, saferoom info, sandbag info, damage reporting, and how to stay informed!
City administration and emergency officials met this morning to assess the current weather landscape and outline our next steps. Because conditions will change due to Tropical Storm Arthur, our city strategy will continue to evolve as new data comes in.
The Double Threat Window
• Overnight Tonight: Tropical Storm Arthur is pushing into the Gulf South. We are under a threat of localized tornadoes, high winds, heavy rain, and rapid flash flooding starting overnight.
• Through Friday: Independent of any additional rain from the storm, local creeks are rising due to regional runoff. We anticipate cresting and potential creek flooding by Friday.
City Operations & Emergency Status
Our workforce is utilizing every resource available to prepare our infrastructure.
• Declaration of Emergency: The Picayune City Council signed a Declaration of Emergency during the council meeting last night. This is a proactive measure to ensure the city is legally positioned to receive disaster assistance should state or federal funds become available. It is not a guarantee of funding, but it ensures Picayune is included in the process from day one.
• Infrastructure: Public Works crews are currently on the streets clearing catch basins and neighborhood drainage ditches.
• Next Briefing: City leadership will meet again at 3:00 PM today following the National Weather Service's 2:00 PM briefing. Guidance, timelines, and instructions may adjust based on that new data.
• Park Closures: To prioritize safety and shift resources, all City of Picayune parks will close today (Wednesday) at 12:00 PM noon until further notice.
Emergency Saferoom Open
The emergency saferoom is open for anyone who feels unsafe in their home or resides in a historically low-lying area.
• Location: 501 Laurel Street
• Status: Open until further notice.
• What to Bring: Please bring your essential daily items including medications, food, water, and bedding/something to sleep on.
Sandbag Distribution Details
We are deploying sandbags via a two-tiered system to ensure efficiency.
1. Pre-Filled / Packed Bags
• Location: 309 Stephens Street
• Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM today.
• Note: Elderly or disabled residents requiring drop-off assistance handled by the Fire Department should email requests preferably to: [email protected]
2. Self-Service Stations (Open starting at 12:00 PM noon)
• Please do not arrive at these locations before 12:00 PM noon. Vehicles parking early will block the roadways and staging areas for our heavy sand delivery trucks.
• Requirements: Shovels/equipment are not provided. The city supplies the sand and the bags only; you must bring your own tools to fill them.
• Locations:
1. Daniels Street Park (The Barking Lot Dog Park)
2. Leola Jordan Park (903 E. Canal Street)
3. First United Pentecostal Church (123 Kendrick Lane)
4. 1206 Pinewood Drive
Damage Self-Reporting
The Pearl River County Office of Emergency Services has established a digital portal for residents to log property damage from yesterday's initial flooding. If your home or business sustained damage, please self-report the details here: https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/pearlriverMS/request.html
Stay Informed
Conditions are evolving quickly. This specific post will be updated continuously as new information becomes available.
Residents can stay in the loop by watching our official city social media channels, visiting our website at www.picayune.ms.us to click the alert banner at the top of the page, or signing up for the "Notify Me" feature on the website to receive text and email notifications the moment information goes out.
