Great River Maintains Essential Water and Wastewater Services in Mississippi During Winter Storm Fern

(February 10, 2026) — When Winter Storm Fern swept across the Midwest and southern states in January, bringing widespread power outages, fallen trees, and impassable roads, Great River Regional Director Brent Shelby and his Mississippi field teams responded with focused coordination and resilience. While operations across Central State Water Resources’ (CSWR) footprint faced challenging conditions, Mississippi experienced some of the storm’s most severe impacts, including prolonged utility power outages in the norther part of the state.

Despite these conditions, Great River’s water and wastewater systems remained operational through continuous monitoring and timely transitions to generator power. Crews worked extended hours in extreme conditions to maintain system performance while navigating hazardous travel obstacles. Beyond system operations, Shelby and Great River personnel cleared obstructed roadways, assisted stranded motorists, and supported other utility crews encountered during response efforts.

Noted Brad Cates, State Director for Mississippi, “The team’s response really underscores the effectiveness of CSWR’s 5-stage emergency storm response protocol. Their ability to mobilize quickly, maintain operations during prolonged outages, and restore service efficiently reflects deliberate planning, defined roles, and disciplined execution. Winter Storm Fern demonstrated that our preparedness model works in the field, when and where it matters most.”

Throughout Winter Storm Fern, Great River remained focused on protecting public health, maintaining service continuity, and following established protocols to ensure safe and reliable water and wastewater service for the communities it serves.