Mississippi Edition

Sally comes ashore east of the Mississippi-Alabama state line. We examine the threats the storm still presents the coastal counties as it moves out.

Then, Jackson county has been hammered with rain from Sally over the last 24 hours. We check in with their locale emergency manager.

Plus, after a Southern Remedy Health Minute, state health officials weigh in on the effectiveness of masks.

Segment 1:

For days, Hurricane Sally has been threatening the Mississippi Coast as it churned in the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Now, it appears that threat is over. Sally officially made landfall this morning near Gulf Shores, Alabama after strengthening overnight to a Category 2 storm with winds topping 100 miles per hour. But the slow pace of the storm could still require residents along the coast and in eastern Mississippi to be weather-aware.

Segment 2:

For the Mississippi Gulf Coast, hurricane season is a time of hyper-awareness and preparation. Jackson County in the southeastern corner of the state, was forecast to be hit by some of the most severe elements of Hurricane Sally when the state began preparing for the storm last weekend. But as the storm ticked east, the county was spared some from the worst. Still, as Emergency Services Director Earl Etheridge tells our Michael Guidry, the county was hit with winds strong enough to down trees and cause power outages.

Segment 3:

Southern Remedy Health Minute

Segment 4:

Mississippians will be required to wear masks through the end of September following Governor Tate Reeves' decision to extended his pandemic-related executive order. The state has seen a downward trend in coronavirus cases since mandate was issued in August. State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers says mask-wearing could still be in integral part of fighting transmission even as vaccines are developed.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has long supported the wearing of masks. He says new studies are being conducted that examine micro-exposure - which could further prove the effectiveness of masks.