An early morning thunderstorm that dumped more than 4 inches of rain on parts of Biloxi has forced street flooding and caused roof and water damage at City Hall.
Motorists, faced with a flooded U.S. 90, navigated Pass Road and Irish Hill Drive enroute to work this morning.
At this hour, sections of U.S. 90 in Biloxi are impassible because of slow-draining water, and public works crews have closed sections of Whitney Road in Woolmarket; Benachi Avenue in downtown Biloxi; and Rustwood, Trailwood, Baywood and Carolwood drives, and Baywood Circle in west Biloxi north of the Bay.
At City Hall, where Mayor A.J. Holloway said it appeared a small tornado may have touched down around 6 this morning, Public Works crews were inspecting and repairing damage to the roof along the north side of the three story building.
Water seeped into all three floors of the north side of the building, areas that were also damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Tree limbs were downed in front of the downtown library, across from CIty Hall on Lameuse Street. Public Works crews were clearing storm drains and catch basins in flood-prone areas.
Biloxi Police Chief Bruce Dunagan, who said Biloxi’s public safety dispatchers also were briefly handling county 911 calls this morning, advised residents to avoid traveling unless necessary, and those who must travel should use extreme caution, use their headlights, and avoid traveling road with standing water.
Biloxi Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Tisdale reported that Biloxi public schools were all in session.
Online weather information
–You can see the latest weather advisories in the city’s online Weather Center. To visit, click here.
–To see real-time, online radar, click here.
