From Ohio to Mississippi, about 14 million people are reportedly under tornado watches.

Intense tornadoes have wreaked havoc in Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as other US states. The storms have damaged homes and farms in Missouri and Arkansas, and even tippled a radio tower in Indiana. Wednesday’s storms are likely to start many days of nearly nonstop rain that could in turn trigger “generational” flooding in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, forecasters have warned, according to CNN. From Ohio to Mississippi, about 14 million people are under tornado watches.

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Tornadoes have struck Slayden in Mississippi, and Grand Junction and Selmer in Tennessee, posts on X show.

“Grand Junction has been hit directly by a nightmarish wedge tornado. Debris being lofted over 20,000 ft. and now getting thrown into a massive debris field. Oh no…,” one post on X reads. Sharing that there is a storm in Slayden, one user wrote, “The NWS must be asleep, this needs to be a tornado emergency”. In another post, a video is captioned, “Here is a look at the Selmer #tornado! Insane to see another wedge happen in this historic outbreak! If you are in a warning, TAKE COVER NOW!”

Climate change is leading to extreme rainfall becoming more likely. A recent Climate Central study found that climate change has intensified hourly rainfall rates in nearly 90% of large US cities since 1970. In fact, AccuWeather has said that there could be up to four months’ worth of rain in five days along portions of a 1,000-mile-long swath in parts of the Central US. The amount of rainfall may be hard to handle for small streams and drainage systems in urban areas. In extreme cases, there could be rainfall rates of up to a few inches per hour, which can subsequently cause flash flooding.

Tornado watches in Tennessee and Mississippi

Meanwhile, the Storm Prediction Center has said tornado watches will remain in parts of northern Alabama, eastern Kentucky, northern Mississippi and central Tennessee until 6 am CT Thursday, April 3. Nearly six million people are impacted by the watch, including in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tupelo, Mississippi.

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• The entire staff of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was laid off, jeopardizing assistance for millions of Americans needing help with energy costs.
• The layoffs, part of a government-wide mass firing of 10,000 employees, were led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. under the direction of President Donald Trump.
• The cuts leave $378 million in cooling and emergency assistance funds in limbo, as the staff responsible for distribution were among those laid off.
• LIHEAP, which assists approximately 6.2 million low-income households, is crucial for ensuring safe housing temperatures during extreme weather conditions.
• The impact of the layoffs will be acutely felt in the South, which experiences high electricity rates and a significant number of energy-insecure households.

The entire staff of a federal agency that helps the poor and economically struggling pay their light bills was laid off this week. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps people pay for energy based on income and need and helps millions of Americans with heat and cooling costs.

About 10,000 people were fired from the Department of Health and Human Services. The move, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was in line with plans to cut government spending touted by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who leads the new Department of Government Efficiency.

The mass firing hit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Food and Drug Administration; and the National Institutes of Health.

Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, told USA Today that HHS laid off the whole LIHEAP staff Monday, March 31, as part of the purge.

The program helps about 6.2 million people in low-income households keep access to the power needed for staying safe in extreme hot and cold weather. The program can be lifesaving for homes under freeze or extreme heat warnings.

According to the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, the South has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation paired with some of the highest bills. According to analysis, they found that the four-state region including Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky averaged 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2015. The average monthly bill for the region was $138, outpaced only by Alaska and Hawaii. The noncontiguous states paid 28 cents per kWh and about $151 per month.

Here’s what we know about the federal staffing cuts and how LIHEAP helps people in Mississippi.

What is LIHEAP?

The Mississippi Department of Human Services manages the program in the state. It’s offered in all 82 counties, and the funds are prioritized based on need.

“Vulnerable households include those households with members who are elderly, disabled, or with children age 5 or younger,” the site reads.

According to the 2024 fiscal year plan, the state planned to use about 45% of funds on heating assistance, 40% for cooling and 5% for crisis assistance. Any funds not used for heating would be used for cooling help later in the year.

When will people feel the cuts?

According to Wolfe, About $4.1 million in funds were released to LIHEAP for fiscal year 2025 last year. That accounts for about 90% of the allocated funds.

The last 10% – about $378 million – is used for cooling and emergency help. That can’t be released, he said, until HHS decides how much goes to each state. That person was fired.

“My concern is that the Administration could say that without an allocation or staff to oversee the funding, they cannot distribute the $378 million to the states,” Wolfe said.

What is energy insecurity? Why is it important to keep your house at a healthy temperature?

According to a 2024 analysis from the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) & Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI), about 15.4 million households across the South have energy insecurity. About 7.5 million are estimated to have received a cutoff notice, and paying a utility bill is a top cause for people taking out payday loans.

Five million households in the South have had to leave their homes at an unhealthy temperature (too hot or too cold). That can lead some people, mostly kids, at a higher risk of health issues like asthma.

About 3.9 million homes in the south lack access to working cooling equipment, which can lead to heat-related illness or death.

What does LIHEAP help with?

According to DHS, the program can help pay a home power bill, an energy crisis or weatherizing a residence to help cut power costs.

The state was allocated $38,416,289 for fiscal year 2024, according to LIHEAP Clearinghouse. The program helped 30,253 households with heating, 28,668 with cooling and 8,222 with a crisis. Heating help is offered Oct. 1 through April 30, and cooling assistance is available May 1 to Sept. 30.

LIHEAP and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) can help with:

• Gas.
• Wood.
• Electricity.
• Liquid propane or butane gas.
• Some other services.

Mississippi makes the payments directly to the energy supplier.

The Mississippi program also can provide items like blankets, fans, space heaters or air conditioners as in-kind or other benefits.

Crisis services can include things like heating and cooling system repair or replacement, buying a wood stove or helping with utility/gas hookups.

Energy providers work with the state to delay shutoffs on unpaid accounts on days the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat or freeze warning for that county.

Why are utility bills in the South so high?

Several factors go into the region’s disproportionately high bills, according to the SEEA and TERPI data. That includes housing segregation policies that still keep Black voices out of some conversations on clean, affordable energy and how the power reached rural communities historically.

The fact most houses in the South – about 53% – were built well before current energy codes is also a huge hurdle. According to the analysis half of Southern states are still using a code developed more than 10 years ago, some actively work to roll back policies meant to help maintaining the house more comfortable and affordable.

According to SEEA and TERPI, the high bills hit low-income households and people of color the hardest. More than a third of people in the South struggle, leaving people in a state of energy insecurity.

Most counties in the region (1,229) have energy burdens that exceed a 6% affordability benchmark. Only 88 counties across the South have energy burden that would be affordable for low-income families.

The review used a few Mississippi counties as examples. In Rankin, a low-to-medium-income household would make about $51,646. At a 6% energy burden, they’d pay $258 per month, or $3,099 per year. In Noxubee, a LMI household would bring in about $28,800 per month. With a 16% energy burden, they’d pay $384 per month or $4,608 per year.

Why do Black people, the elderly pay for for heating and cooling?

According to the SEEA and TERPI analysis, access to less energy efficient housing – like older properties – and fewer resources to cut costs hits minorities across the South. The majority of Mississippi counties have high energy burdens on low-income homes paired with a high percentage of minority residents.

While they might use less energy, a building using more power per square foot than it should can make the cost disproportionate.

Elderly people also can be left footing a higher bill. Mississippi also has significant overlap when looking at a high energy burden on the poorest residents and the rate of people older than 65 by county.

Summer heat hits Mississippi hard, can be deadly

The National Weather Service ranks 2024 as the hottest year on record for the country and second-warmest year on record for Mississippi.

According to 2023 National Weather Service data, Mississippi had two heat-related deaths. One was in an outside or open area and another was in a mobile or trailer home. About 555 people died as a result of hot weather across the country, most of them (448) in Arizona.

Who qualifies for help from LIHEAP in Mississippi?

According to the Mississippi Department of Human Services, to get assistance, a person would have to:

• Have a power bill due to a landlord or electric company.
• Be a a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
• Have a “household income at or below the 60% of the state median income for their household size.”

Applicants have to provide documentation, and they can apply for LIHEAP help at the same time as SNAP and Medicaid.

Know your neighbor: How many in Mississippi get Medicare, Medicaid? Half of kids get federal health insurance

Are there other Mississippi programs to help with your light, heat bill?

According to LIHEAP Clearinghouse, there are some help options for low-income Mississippi residents.

Mississippi Power reportedly drops the base charge for “for eligible low-income and elderly customers receiving SSI or TANF.” Call 1-800-532-1502 for more information.

Project SHARE from Mississippi Power is administered by the United Way. It helps the elderly and disabled with energy bills.

Entergy Mississippi’s Helping Hands also works to weatherize about 100 residences per year, including plugging draft, caulking and replacing doors and windows. Call 1-800-368-3749 for information.

The company also has Power to Care which uses donations from customers and the company to help low-income elderly and disabled people and Beat the Heat, an annual fan giveaway for the people who need them most.

The Salvation Army administers Sharing the Warmth for Atmos Energy. It uses customer and company donations to help people who meet specific criteria pay their gas bills. Learn more at atmosenergy.com/community/sharing-warmth/.

Community Action Agencies across the state might also be able to help with basic needs like education costs, housing, education costs or utility bills. To find CAAs near you, look for your county name at mdhs.ms.gov/community/.

You can find more assistance programs through the Missississippi Public Service Commission at https://www.psc.ms.gov/ubpa.

Contributing: Medora Lee

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

MEMPHIS — Just five days ago, Mississippi State’s Ryan McPherson had the lowest low of his young college pitching career.

One inning, two walks, two hits and three runs allowed in the 8-4 loss against LSU on March 27 by the freshman right-hander played a part in getting swept by the Tigers.

On Tuesday, McPherson (2-0) had his best performance of the season, tossing four scoreless innings in relief as Mississippi State (17-12) defeated Memphis 5-3 at FedEx Park on Tuesday.

“It felt great, especially after the LSU weekend, kinda let the team down a little bit,” McPherson said. “It felt great to great to get back out there, regain my confidence, and continue into this weekend.”

After a three-run third inning for Memphis (11-17), McPherson entered the game and retired 12 batters in a row after allowing a soft single. In four innings, he struck out eight and notched his first win since March 12 against Nicholls.

“It was awesome,” coach Chris Lemonis said of McPherson’s outing. “The last two weeks have been tough (for McPherson) because of command and composure, and I thought he had great command and composure (Tuesday). Even after he got hit, he just jumped right back out there and pounded the strike zone. He’s got elite stuff.”

Tough competition and long road trips early in the season have been an adjustment, but McPherson has leaned on the veterans around him.

“It’s a learning process,” McPherson said. “A lot of the older guys they help me out, Pico (Kohn) helps me out, Stone (Simmons) helps me through it all. You just have to learn to take it game by game and do your job.”

Noah Sullivan’s continued success as a two-way player

Noah Sullivan made his fourth career start for the Bulldogs after transferring from USC Upstate.

Lemonis said he likes the value and consistency Sullivan provides in midweek games. That’s exactly what Sullivan did Tuesday, throwing two scoreless innings despite two errors in the opening inning. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a home run.

“I don’t know if he had his best stuff tonight, but he’s always a competitor,” Lemonis said.

Sullivan is second on the team with a .358 batting average and has thrown 10 scoreless innings.

“It’s more so to save innings for our weekend guys and set the table for the rest of games, almost like an opener,” Sullivan said of his role. “It’s really good to put up zeroes and let us win.”

Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal’s high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_.