By John Howell
 and Rupert Howell
Panola County’s Emergency Management Agency continues to deal with problems both large and small following last week’s strong EF3 tornado that crossed Panola County around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The tornado was followed on Christmas Day by rains and flooding causing major damage to at least two homes in the county, and minor to a third. Four Panola County homes were destroyed, suffering major damage in last Wednesday’s tornado; nine more were damaged.
EMA Director Daniel Cole said that agricultural interests between the west county line south of Ballentine Road to I-55 at the J.Q. West/Holston Road intersection suffered heavy losses from damage to shop buildings, grain bins and irrigation systems. Emergency officials also observed extensive damage to pine and hardwood timber strewn about from the tornado’s winds.
Housing was found for eight people displaced by the damage. All but one victim had made arrangement with family members and that person was provided a motel room for initial lodging, Cole said.
“We kept asking people what they needed, and they said, ‘we’re taken care of,’” Cole said.
Red Cross liaison Chris Clark, who is also a fireman with the Sardis Volunteer Fire Department, was among first responders at the Panola EMA office Wednesday evening helping to coordinate with state and national American Red Cross relief efforts.
More weather problems came with Monday morning winds that caused major damage to two Panola homes and minor damage to another as Cole explained the wet ground has compromised the tree roots’ strength in holding the trees erect.
At press time Monday, 20 homes in the county had reportedly been affected by storms in less than a week.
Four or five trees were also blown into county roadways, according to Cole, who noted the number didn’t include trees on MDOT maintained highways or roads.
Amidst the tornado, flooding, wind and mounds of paperwork required to keep state officials abreast of a possible need for an emergency disaster declaration, a missing person report required the involvement of the county’s search and rescue, Lafayette County Rescue and DeSoto County Sheriff Department helicopter, as well as local helicopter operator Trey Manning.
That person was found Sunday, injured from a 4-wheeler accident on Corps property at Sardis Lake and transported by Air Evac to the Med in Memphis, according to Cole, who said he had not received a report on the victim’s condition.
While searchers were conducting their search, Cole was meeting with MEMA officials Sunday morning.
A conference call was scheduled with Governor Phil Bryant Monday afternoon and a MEMA investigative crew is expected in Panola County today to determine if disaster status should be declared.
Cole also noted that a search and rescue crew from Panola and Batesville Fire Department spent most of one day in Benton County until two storm victims were found there. Both of those victims were dead.
As Cole tallies and lists obvious and reported damage, he asks that anyone who has sustained damage from rain or wind during the time frame to call his office at (662) 563-6245 or 487-2430.
Although initial needs have been met for victims in Panola County, people who want to volunteer to help more severely stricken counties or who want to make monetary donations can get information at www.ms.disasterresponse.org.
In addition, disaster relief agency Eight Days of Hope is working in the Holly Springs area, according to Sonshine Ashcraft of Pope, who volunteers with the organization. For information, visit eightdaysofhope.com. The group expects to be working in the area through January 3.