TL;DR: Hancock County will open the Necaise Shelter at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at 30360 Highway 603 in Perkinston, with closure set for noon Saturday, as part of a multi-county shelter opening ahead of Hurricane Isaias.

Hancock County officials said the Necaise Shelter will serve residents who need a safe location during the storm period, according to WAPT's "Mississippi shelter opens for Hurricane Isaias."

Necaise Shelter hours and location in Hancock County

Officials in Hancock County, Mississippi, said they will open the Necaise Shelter for anyone who needs it, according to Fox 8 Live's "Hancock County officials to open shelter ahead of Hurricane Isaias."

The shelter address is 30360 Highway 603 in Perkinston, Mississippi.

Opening is set for 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. Closure is set for noon on Saturday.

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors encourages anyone in need to bring all necessary items to remain self-sufficient during their stay.

WAPT's "Mississippi shelter opens for Hurricane Isaias" reported that residents who utilize the shelter are asked to bring all necessary items during their stay.

The American Red Cross will be providing cots, blankets, water and meals for anyone utilizing the shelter, officials said.

Holly Bilbo, with the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency, said the county's team is familiar with areas prone to flooding and is focused on preparing for possible tidal flooding.

Bilbo also encouraged Hancock County residents to reach out with questions about flood risk.

"Some of them may not be aware of what their elevation is or if their area floods, so we can talk with them, get their address, look on the map, see if they're in an area that would be affected by the storm surge, and we may be able to ease their mind on some things," Bilbo said.

Additional shelters opening across South Mississippi

Storm shelters in South Mississippi will open to provide a safe space for residents evacuating ahead of potential severe weather from Hurricane Isaias, according to WLOX's "Storm shelters opening in South Mississippi ahead of Isaias."

In George County, the Agricola Storm Shelter at 3161 Cooks Corner Road will open at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Officials in George County said to bring snacks, sleeping gear, medication, and any personal items needed.

In Harrison County, the County Farm Road Shelter at 15035 County Farm Road in Gulfport will open and is scheduled to close at 12:00 p.m. Saturday. WLOX listed the Harrison County opening as 12:00 p.m. on Friday in its shelter list.

Officials in Harrison County said residents seeking shelter should bring necessary medications, essential food items, and other personal items needed during their stay.

Residents with pets using the Harrison County shelter should bring necessary supplies, including a crate and leash. Pets will be boarded at the Lyman Center.

In Jackson County, two shelters will open Friday at 8 a.m., according to the Biloxi Sun Herald's "First Hurricane Isaias evacuation order issued on MS Coast. Here's what to know."

The Central Jackson County Shelter is at 5500 Ballpark Road in Vancleave. The East Jackson County Shelter is at 18413 Highway 613 in Hurley.

WLOX listed both Jackson County shelters as scheduled to close at 12 p.m. Saturday.

Transportation assistance for shelter access is available through Coast Transit Authority at 1-866-206-8843, according to WLOX.

Jackson County voluntary evacuation and transport contacts

A voluntary evacuation has been issued for Jackson County residents who live south of U.S. 90, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.

The order also covers residents living in low-lying, flood-prone areas, residents living on rivers, inlets, bayous and creeks, and residents living in travel-trailers or sub-standard structures.

The order was given by Earl Etheridge, the director of the Jackson County Office of Emergency Services, in anticipation of moderate to major coastal flooding in Mississippi's easternmost Coast county.

Transportation to shelters will be handled by law enforcement, with separate contacts listed for unincorporated areas and cities.

For unincorporated areas of Jackson County, the contact is the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 228-769-3068.

For the City of Ocean Springs, the contact is the Ocean Springs Fire Department at 228-875-4063.

For the City of Gautier, the contact is the Gautier Police Department at 228-497-2486.

For the City of Pascagoula, the contact is the Pascagoula Police Department at 228-762-2211.

For the City of Moss Point, the contact is the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711.

Forecast threats for South Mississippi

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for parts of South Mississippi, and a Hurricane Warning is in place from Ocean Springs to Florida, according to WAPT.

The main threats for South Mississippi include sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts exceeding 40 mph expected Friday afternoon through Friday evening.

Rainfall accumulations are forecast to range from 0.50 to 1 inch, with locally higher amounts possible.

Scattered power outages and some damage to homes and buildings are possible due to the storm's impacts.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Hurricane Isaias is expected to bring significant rainfall, flash flooding, and other impacts to the state starting Friday and lasting through the weekend, according to WAPT's "Hurricane Isaias: MEMA urges Mississippi residents to prepare."

Forecasters predicted the storm could strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane and begin affecting the Mississippi Gulf Coast as early as Friday.

There are hurricane watches and warnings as well as tropical storm watches and warnings along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, according to WAPT's "Harrison County under state of emergency as people fill sandbags ahead of Isaias' impact."

Sandbags, emergency declaration and park closures

Hancock, Pearl River and Harrison counties have announced sandbag locations, according to Fox 8 Live.

People in Harrison County were filling sandbags Thursday ahead of the storm.

Harrison County Public Information Officer Jeff Clark said, "We have several self-serve sandbag locations, one of which we're at right now. We opened them last weekend because of the threat of torrential rain last week, so people have been coming getting sand, and like, we've had to add more sand. There was a lot of people getting it yesterday."

Clark said the Harrison County Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency, which will allow the county to get state and federal aid, should it need that.

He said the declaration also allows the county to open shelters should the emergency management director decide to do that, and Harrison County will be opening one shelter later in the afternoon.

All Harrison County parks, ballfields, walking tracks, pickleball courts and park bathrooms are closed through Monday.

Chad Lewis owns Sweet Water Property Maintenance. "We're just trying to help our community," Lewis said about sandbag assistance. "There are several people that are needing help, unaware of what the storm is actually gonna do, storm surge, rising water, so we're just trying to help out our community with a lot of sandbags and hopefully help out," he said.

Harrison County leaders are asking people to stay updated on storm response on their social media pages.

MEMA preparation guidance before Friday impacts

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is urging residents to prepare for Hurricane Isaias, according to WAPT.

MEMA is coordinating with local emergency managers and first responders, including the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi National Guard, to deploy resources as needed.

MEMA Executive Director Stephen "Mac" McCraney said, "The threat is real, and now is the time to prepare."

McCraney said, "We have seen how quickly tropical systems can impact Mississippi. Tropical Storm Arthur in June brought tremendous amounts of rain, flash flooding and significant damage."

MEMA encouraged residents to check emergency supplies, including three days' worth of drinking water, non-perishable food, medications, a first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, important documents, and other essentials.

MEMA encouraged residents to fully charge electronic devices, such as cell phones and portable battery packs.

MEMA encouraged residents to secure outdoor property, including furniture, grills, and trash cans, to prevent them from becoming hazards in strong winds.

MEMA encouraged residents to safely clear drainage areas by removing leaves and debris from gutters and storm drains.

MEMA reminded residents to know flood risk and avoid driving or walking through floodwaters with the message: "Turn around, don't drown."

MEMA encouraged residents to make an evacuation plan, including arrangements for children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and pets.

MEMA encouraged residents to stay informed by monitoring local weather reports and emergency updates, to ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on phones and to have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as a NOAA Weather Radio or the MEMA mobile app.

McCraney also said, "Remember, the first 72 hours are on you." He said residents should be prepared to care for themselves and families during the initial hours following a disaster and not assume help will arrive immediately.

Red Cross deployment and household readiness steps

The Red Cross is deploying to Mississippi and Alabama to help in response to Hurricane Isaias, according to WAPT's "Red Cross deploys to Mississippi, Alabama ahead of storm."

The Red Cross is moving people and supplies into place before the storm arrives so help can reach affected communities as quickly as possible once conditions are safe.

The Red Cross is closely tracking the storm and working with local emergency officials and community partners to prepare for possible shelter and relief needs.

The Red Cross guidance said residents should know where they will go and be ready to leave quickly if local officials issue an evacuation order. It said residents should know their route and where they plan to stay before the storm arrives.

The guidance said residents should stay informed, monitor local news, NOAA Weather Radio and alerts from local officials, and follow evacuation instructions and other safety guidance.

The guidance said residents should secure their homes by bringing in or securing outdoor furniture, trash cans and other items that could be blown around by strong winds.

The guidance said residents should check emergency supplies and have enough water, nonperishable food, medications and other essentials for everyone in the household, including flashlights, batteries, phone chargers, first-aid supplies, personal hygiene items, emergency contact information and extra cash.

The guidance said residents who already have an emergency kit should check expiration dates and replace any food, water, medications or batteries that are outdated.

The guidance said residents should protect important documents by keeping insurance policies, identification and other important records in a safe place and considering photos or digital copies in case originals are damaged.

The guidance said residents should bring pets indoors and have food, water, medications, leashes, carriers and other supplies ready if they need to leave.

Families who already have an emergency plan should review it together now so everyone knows what to do, where to go and how to reconnect if separated.

Sources referenced