PRESS RELEASE

Lafayette County, Miss. — Jan. 23, 2026 — Lafayette County officials say they are prepared for a winter storm expected to begin early Saturday morning, with hazardous travel conditions anticipated by daybreak.

County road crews have been staging equipment and treating roadways and bridges and are prepared to begin clearing roads as soon as conditions allow. Warming centers have also been established throughout Lafayette County, with plans in place to open additional locations if needed.

“Our teams have been preparing for this storm and are ready to respond as conditions develop,” said Lafayette County Emergency Management Director Steve Quarles. “We’ve been working closely with our road department, public safety partners, and power providers to be ready for impacts and to support the community through any icing and power disruptions.”

Lafayette County Emergency Management is coordinating with local power providers on restoration plans and working with partner agencies to identify additional resources that may be needed for recovery operations if significant icing occurs.

County Administrator Kate Victor urged residents to complete final preparations before conditions deteriorate.

“We’re asking everyone to make final preparations today and tonight, because we expect roads to become too hazardous for travel by morning,” Victor said. “All county agencies are prepared, and we will continue coordinating our response to keep residents as safe as possible.”

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette County Fire Department are prepared to respond to emergencies during the storm. Officials are encouraging residents to avoid unnecessary travel once freezing precipitation begins, check on neighbors who may need help, and ensure you have a way to stay warm in the event of power outages.

Residents should monitor official Lafayette County Emergency Management communications for the latest updates on road conditions, warming centers and storm impacts.

Lafayette County Emergency Management
Homeland Security
72 F.D. Buddy East Pkwy
Suite 102
Oxford, MS 38655
PHONE: (662) 234-5667

Steve Quarles
Director
squarles@lafayettecoms.com

Stephen Wood
Deputy Director Ops.
swood@lafayettecoms.com

Media Contact
Beau Moore
Public Information Officer
(662) 801-8323
bmoore@lafayettecoms.com

Jeremy Abbott
Deputy Director Admin.
jabbott@lafayettecoms.com