![]() ![]() One home was flooded Monday but the mayor said the water did not rise as high as expected. The problems at the water treatment plant came after the city appeared to largely avoid widespread flooding from a Pearl River swollen by days of heavy rain. “We are committed to helping the people of Jackson and the state of Mississippi during this urgent time of need,” she said. President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration request for the state of Mississippi, directing his team to surge federal assistance to the region, Jean-Pierre tweeted late Tuesday. Jean-Pierre said White House officials have been in contact with local officials and the state Health Department. She said the state had not asked FEMA for help with trucking in drinking water, and declined to say why. He ain’t going to get us today, baby.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that the federal government is prepared to help Mississippi respond to the water crisis. “We’re going to find somewhere to practice, find somewhere that can accommodate every durn thing that we need and desire to be who we desire to be, and that’s dominate,” Sanders said. In a video that one of his sons posted to social media, Sanders - also known as Coach Prime - said he wanted to move players into a hotel so they could shower. Jackson State University brought in temporary restrooms for students, and Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders said the water crisis left his players without air conditioning or ice at their practice facility. Jackson schools held classes online Tuesday, and some restaurants closed. Those who did have water flowing from the tap were told to boil it to kill bacteria that could make them sick. Low water pressure left some people unable to take showers or flush toilets and officials said the low pressure caused concern for firefighting. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased - the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that began after public schools integrated in 1970. Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can't afford to fix. Although the two politicians are often at odds, Lumumba said Tuesday that he's having productive discussions with the Health Department and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and he's grateful for the state's help. Lumumba is Democrat and was not invited to the Republican governor’s Monday night news conference. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said Jackson's water system is troubled by short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance." He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers. The state will try to help resolve problems by hiring contractors to work at the treatment plant, which was operating at diminished capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps failed “some time ago,” Reeves said. “I just - I hate dealing with the problems.” Mississippi governor Tate Reeves said late Monday that he’s declaring a state of emergency for Jackson's water system, and he issued the proclamation Tuesday. ![]() “I love doing business in Jackson, and I like the people of Jackson,” Emerson said. Restaurant owner Derek Emerson said on Tuesday that water problems “are making it impossible for us to do business in Jackson, Mississippi.” Emerson and his wife, Jennifer, own the upscale Walker's Drive-In, and he said they have been spending $300 a day for ice and bottled water in the past month. The city of 150,000 had already been under a boil-water notice for a month because the Health Department found cloudy water that could cause digestive problems. Parts of Jackson were without running water Tuesday because flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants. JACKSON: Mississippi's capital city is grappling with multiple water problems - too much on the ground after heavy rainfall in the past week, and not enough safe water coming through the pipes for people to use. ![]()
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