Here’s What That Actually Means.

As of Saturday, June 20, 2026

Gov. Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency for Mississippi areas hit by flooding from Tropical Storm Arthur, and Stone County is included. Here's what that actually unlocks for residents and what it doesn't.

At a Glance

• Gov. Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency on June 19 for Mississippi areas affected or potentially affected by flooding tied to Tropical Storm Arthur. Stone County is among the counties included.
• Flooding began June 15 and is ongoing. At least 10 counties statewide have reported damage.
• The declaration triggers Mississippi’s price gouging law immediately — it is now illegal to raise prices on goods and services in the affected area.
• It does not automatically mean individual homeowners receive repair money. That depends on a separate process that hasn’t started yet.
• Damage assessments for Stone County are scheduled to begin Tuesday, June 23, according to the Governor’s office.
• As of this afternoon, Stone County has logged 59 rescue and relocation missions, one business with major damage, and eight closed roads.
• Residents with storm damage should still complete the state’s self-report survey, which it’s part of the documentation that could support that later process.

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What Happened

Mississippi has seen continuous heavy rain, strong wind, and flooding since June 15, tied to Tropical Storm Arthur and its remnants. With more rain forecast for already-affected areas, Governor Tate Reeves signed a proclamation on June 19 declaring a State of Emergency for areas of Mississippi affected or potentially affected by the storm.

The proclamation doesn’t list counties by name — it covers the affected areas broadly — but state and local reporting confirm Stone County is one of at least 10 counties with documented damage, alongside Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, George, Forrest, Franklin, Lawrence, Rankin, and Walthall counties. Multiple roads in Stone County have been closed due to high water, and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has deployed swift-water rescue teams to support local responders across the affected region.

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Stone County, This Afternoon

A separate situational update from the Governor’s office, posted June 20, gives the clearest local picture so far. As of that report:

• The American Red Cross shelter serving the area has been relocated to Stone Middle School.
• One business has sustained major damage; 28 roads have sustained minimal damage.
• Eight roads remain closed. Four additional roads are damaged or partially covered by water but remain passable.
• The county’s water tower sustained lightning-related damage.
• Stone County crews have conducted 59 rescue and relocation missions.
• Damage assessments are scheduled to begin Tuesday, June 23.

Statewide, most of Mississippi remains under an elevated flash flood threat through this afternoon, with another 1 to 3 inches of rain possible on ground that’s already saturated — meaning these numbers could still move before Tuesday.

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What This Unlocks for Stone County

A State of Emergency declaration is a resource-coordination tool. It lets MEMA, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality move state assets toward affected communities without the normal procedural delays, and it gives Stone County’s city and county governments faster access to mutual aid and state agency support — including the Mississippi Department of Transportation for road repair.

It also activates Mississippi’s price gouging law for the duration of the declaration. Sellers in the affected area cannot charge more for goods and services than they were charging immediately before the declaration — that covers things like generator prices, hotel rates, and contractor quotes for storm repair. Violations can be reported to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and carry real penalties, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony under state law. To report price gouging in Mississippi, contact the Mississippi Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-281-4418 or 601-359-4230.

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What It Doesn’t Mean

This is the part worth being clear about: a State of Emergency declaration is not, by itself, a guarantee that homeowners will receive money to repair storm damage. It’s the first procedural step, not the last one.

Individual financial assistance — through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program — would require a separate federal major disaster declaration, which the Governor can only request once the state has documented the scope of damage through preliminary damage assessments. That’s exactly what the MEMA self-report survey is for: each report residents submit becomes part of the record state and county officials use to determine whether Stone County’s damage meets the threshold to request that federal step. No reports, no documentation. No documentation, no case.

If you haven’t completed it yet, the damage self-report survey is still open: crisistrack.juvare.com/public/stoneMS/request.html

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Not New Territory

This isn’t the first time this season Stone County’s emergency management has had to move on flooding. The Board of Supervisors called a special meeting on May 26 ahead of an earlier round of heavy rain, voting to submit both a local and state emergency declaration request. Read that recap here.

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What You Can Do Right Now

• Report storm damage through the state’s self-report portal, even if it seems minor: crisistrack.juvare.com/public/stoneMS/request.html
• Document your own damage with photos and dates before cleanup begins, for your records.
• Avoid flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown.
• Watch for storm-related scams — price gouging is illegal right now, and so are contractors who ask for full payment up front and never show up.
• Need shelter, meals, or donations? See our roundup of local resources compiled with Perkinston Elementary. [Link to that post/reel here.]

This is a developing story. The State of Emergency remains in effect until the threat to public safety has passed — there’s no fixed end date. We’ll update this page as Stone County’s damage assessment moves forward.

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