Josh Fairchild looks out at the flood water surrounding Mississippi Iron Works on State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Josh Fairchild looks out at the flood water surrounding the Jackson business that he helps manage. The near record flooding has left him out of work and forced his company to permanently relocate to Pearl, Mississippi. “We are devastated it’s kept us out of work and it has a lot of other people out of work,” Fairchild said on Monday. “It’s not a very fun day here in Jackson.”
Fairchild has been an employee at Mississippi Iron Works, located on State Street, for five years. The business is currently about 3 feet underwater due to flooding of the Pearl River, which crested at 36.7 feet on Monday.
Josh Fairchild looks out at the flood water surrounding Mississippi Iron Works on State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Sand bags block flood water surrounding one of Mississippi Iron Works’ properties on State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
“It is a day that we can reflect on soon and see that we all came from this and made it.”
-Josh Fairchild
“Additional rises are expected in certain areas, but we expect them to be localized, particularly near the (U.S.) Highway 80 area,” Gov. Tate Reeves said during a news conference Monday. “Everyone has worked well together, and that is something that I am proud of. We are making progress, but we still have more work to do.”
Col. Gregory S. Michel, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, says that the state’s next steps are to move toward recovery while the level is at a pause. “We will start our efforts toward the recovery, and we know that it’s going to be a very long, long and enduring process,” Michel said. Some of those affected by the flooding have evacuated their homes, not knowing what to expect when they return. Officials fear that hundreds of homes have been affected by flood waters.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Wilner Hubbard, 63, cries tears of joy after receiving news that her home had not been damaged by the flooding in Jackson, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Wilner Hubbard, an eight-year resident of her Harrow Drive home, was unaware of the condition of her home until unexpected help came to assess the damage for her.
Christopher Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, parked his kayak on dry land after surveying the northeast area of Jackson were Hubbard’s home is surrounded by water. Lockhart finds Hubbard and pulls out his phone to show her photos that he had taken of her home. She looks at the Lockhart’s phone and tears start to trickle down her face. “I’m rejoicing because there is no water nowhere going in my house,” Hubbard said. She was one of the very few residents who were able to smile amid this natural disaster.
“I am a guy with a bunch of boats, why not put them to work,” Lockhart said. In addition to Hubbard, Lockhart also helped Jeffery Lewis, owner of Mississippi Basketball and Athletics. Although Lockhart surveyed his business, Lewis was eager to see it for himself.
Wilner Hubbard, 63, left, expresses joy after Christopher Lockhart shows her photos of her undamaged home Jackson, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, took his kayaks out to areas of Jackson to help residents survey their homes during the Pearl River flood. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Wilner Hubbard, 63, cries tears of Joy after receiving news that her home had not been damaged by the flooding in Jackson, Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
A northeast Jackson resident paddles a kayak to her home in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
“It’s good to see God put a protection over little ol me, and I’m excited about that because he didn’t have to do it.”
-Wilner Hubbard
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Christopher Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, took his kayaks out to areas of Jackson to help residents survey their homes during the Pearl River flood. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
“I could’ve been anywhere else, but I am here right now helping these people. It’s a great feeling.”
–Chris Lockhart
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Jeffery Lewis, Mississippi Basketball and Athletics, waits for members of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Special Response Team to give him a ride on their swamp boat to his athletic training facility in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Lewis waited near the flood water in his knee-high rubber boots for members of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Special Response Team to give him a ride on their swamp boat to his athletic training facility. Lewis’ business not only trains athletes, but it serves as an after school program and has a weekly meals program.
In addition to being troubled with the thought of his business being flooded, he was also concerned how it would affect his community. “We don’t have anywhere for the kids to go. Kids come here every day,” Lewis said. After the response team took him to his facility, he was relieved that the water seemingly had not made it to the inside of the building.
Jeffery Lewis, of Mississippi Basketball and Athletics, left, rides with Lt. Trent Myers, center, and Maj. Dale Bell of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, as they take a look at the flooding near Lewis’ business in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Jeffery Lewis, Mississippi Basketball and Athletics takes a look at the flooding near his business in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Floodwater on Westbrook Road in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
“I’ve been living in Jackson all my life and I’ve never seen it flood like this on Westbrook before.”
-Jeffery Lewis
These are only a few stories from some of the flood victims in the Jackson Metro Area.Now the threat from the flooding moves toward Copiah, Simpson, Lawrence, Jeff Davis, Marion, Pearl River and Hancock counties, the governor said.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flood water nearly submerges train tracks near State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Semitrailers are nearly submerged in floodwater at Southern Mississippi Training Academy in Flowood, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Josh Fairchild looks out at the flood water surrounding Mississippi Iron Works on State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flood water nearly submerges train tracks near State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Water from the Pearl River rises to near Old Brandon Road in Jackson, Miss. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2019. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Sand bags takes takes the place of a welcome mat at a business in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Sand bags block flood water surrounding one of Mississippi Iron Works’ properties on State Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flooding surrounding homes on Galliee Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Harmony Life Baptist Church on Gallatin Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flood water on Gallatin Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
A car passes flood water on Gallatin Street in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Julienne Street is submerged in flood water in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Homes on Julienne Street are surrounded by flood water in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Homes on Nichols Street are surrounded by flood water in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Homes on Nichols Street are surrounded by flood water in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Dave Burrus, co-founder and president of Coco’s House, waits talks to his wife about dogs in need of recusing in a northeast Jackson neighborhood during the Pearl River flood Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Wilner Hubbard, 63, left, expresses joy after Christopher Lockhart shows her photos of her undamaged home Jackson, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, took his kayaks out to areas of Jackson to help residents survey their homes during the Pearl River flood. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Wilner Hubbard, 63, cries tears of Joy after receiving news that her home had not been damaged by the flooding in Jackson, Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Mailboxes are surrounded by floodwater near Harrow Drive in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Jeffery Lewis, Mississippi Basketball and Athletics, waits for members of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife special Response team to give him a ride on their swamp boat to his athletic training facility in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Floodwater on Westbrook Road in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Jeffery Lewis, Mississippi Basketball and Athletics takes a look at the flooding near his business in Jackson, Miss., Monday, February 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Jeffery Lewis, of Mississippi Basketball and Athletics, left, rides with Lt. Trent Myers, center, and Maj. Dale Bell of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, as they take a look at the flooding near Lewis’ business in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
A northeast Jackson resident paddles a kayak to her home in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flooding in northeast Jackson Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Flooding in northeast Jackson neighborhood Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Percy Jenkins sweeps the driveway of a northeast Jackson resident Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Unless otherwise noted, you can republish most of Mississippi Today’s stories for free under a Creative Commons license.
For digital publications:
Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS).
Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. To learn more about our cartoon syndication services, click here.
You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.
You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.
Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.
If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @MSTODAYnews on Facebook and @MSTODAYnews on Twitter.
For print publications:
You have to credit Mississippi Today. We prefer “Author Name, Mississippi Today” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Mississippi Today” and include our website, mississippitoday.org.
You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.
You cannot republish our editorial cartoons, photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor Kayleigh Skinner for more information). To learn more about our cartoon syndication services, click here.
Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories.
You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.
You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection.
Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.
If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @MSTODAYnews on Facebook and @MSTODAYnews on Twitter.
If you have any other questions, contact Audience Development Director Lauchlin Fields.
Pearl River Flooding: Residents begin ‘very long, long and enduring process’ toward recovery
by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today February 18, 2020
Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.