Rains taking toll on area with wrecks, trees falling

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 2, 2001

Vicksburg firefighters and police officers work to secure an area where two oak trees slid from the top of the embankment onto Indiana Avenue Friday morning, blocking both lanes of traffic for more than an hour. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[03/02/01] Deluges of rain during the past few days have meant havoc for roads in Vicksburg and Warren County.

Since Tuesday, 3.67 inches of rain have fallen and more is expected during the weekend, said Priscilla Bridenstine, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson.

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A part of Indiana Avenue was blocked Friday morning after two trees and a large amount of dirt slid down a hill and into the roadway around 7:15.

The debris on Indiana near Porters Chapel Road blocked the road for more than an hour while city crews worked to remove the oak trees.

Lt. David Beard of the Vicksburg Police Department said another mudslide, also reported this morning, was blocking part of Dana Road.

In other weather-related matters, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said one lane of U.S. 80 was shut down after part of the eastbound shoulder was washed away by rain and mud.

Beard said 30 wrecks have been reported in the city since Tuesday, and Pace said that 23 were worked in the county.