North Mississippi Struggles to Recover from Historic Ice Storm

Thousands remain without power and water as repair efforts continue across the region

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:15pm

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A severe ice storm has left communities in northern Mississippi reeling, with thousands still without power and running water days after the storm hit. The small town of Gravestown has been particularly hard hit, with the local fire chief saying it could be another 7-15 days before power is restored. FEMA has deployed generators to critical facilities, but many residents are still facing difficult conditions as they wait for basic services to be restored.

Why it matters

This ice storm is being described as the worst to hit Mississippi in over 30 years, causing widespread damage to power lines and infrastructure. The prolonged outages are creating significant hardship for residents, especially with another round of severe cold weather expected soon. The recovery efforts highlight the challenges rural communities can face in the aftermath of major weather events.

The details

The ice accumulation from the storm, estimated at over an inch in many areas, has caused extensive tree and power line damage across a wide swath of northern Mississippi. Utility crews from several neighboring states have arrived to help repair miles of downed power lines, but the scale of the damage means it could still be over a week before some of the more remote customers regain power. In the city of Oxford, the water supply had to be temporarily shut off in some neighborhoods to ensure the hospital had enough pressure, likely due to burst pipes or increased demand from residents trying to prevent freezing.

  • The ice storm hit the region last weekend.
  • As of Thursday, many areas were still without power and running water.
  • The local power company estimates it could take 7-15 days to fully restore power in some communities.
  • Another round of severe cold weather is expected this weekend across the East Coast.

The players

Kenny Childs

Fire Chief of the Gravestown Volunteer Fire Department.

Keith Hayward

CEO of the Northeast Mississippi Power Association, which is working to repair the extensive damage to the power grid.

Robyn Tannehill

Mayor of Oxford, Mississippi, which has also been heavily impacted by the storm.

Jerrica Pryor

A teacher at a local middle school in Oxford who is struggling without power or running water.

Bo Moore

Spokesperson for Lafayette County, which includes the city of Oxford.

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What they’re saying

“We're very grateful for them. We had no water, no power, no nothing. So, you know, it is great.”

— Kenny Childs, Fire Chief, Gravestown Volunteer Fire Department (CBS News)

“It's amazing. Actually, you see the smile on people's faces when you actually bring power to them, and they get hot water again and able to take showers. Just a cozy feeling on the inside.”

— Kenny Jones, Senior Electrician (CBS News)

“We believe we had an inch-and-a-quarter (of) ice over most of our system, which is basically a record for anything around this area. We've had tree damage that is unbelievable... and by the time the ice loading gets to that kind of loading, with an inch of ice on either side, those poles are holding up nearly 10,000 pounds of extra weight.”

— Keith Hayward, CEO, Northeast Mississippi Power Association (CBS News)

“It has been difficult. Lots of blankets, lots and lots of blankets.”

— Jerrica Pryor, Teacher (CBS News)

“It's going to be a long road to recovery. It's hard to even get our minds to that right now when we still have people without power and without water.”

— Robyn Tannehill, Mayor of Oxford, Mississippi (CBS News)

What’s next

The local power company estimates it could take another 7-15 days to fully restore power in some of the hardest hit areas. In the meantime, FEMA and the National Guard will continue to provide generators and other emergency supplies to critical facilities and residents in need.

The takeaway

This historic ice storm has left a devastating impact on northern Mississippi, with thousands still without basic services days after the event. The prolonged power and water outages highlight the unique challenges rural communities can face in recovering from major weather disasters, especially with another round of severe cold on the way. The recovery efforts will require a sustained, coordinated response from local, state and federal agencies to ensure all residents have their essential needs met.