Mississippi experienced unusual winter weather this past week, with the northern part of the state being hit the hardest. Residents of these northern towns and cities didn’t anticipate being iced in their homes for five to six days (and counting), some without power. Life doesn’t stop or slow down, even when Mother Nature inconveniently swoops in. The icy conditions certainly hindered daily routines and employment. Many healthcare and emergency workers still needed to get to work, while households needed groceries, medicine, or to check on their elderly loved ones.
In the remote corners of rural northeastern Mississippi, where layers of ice still cover the roads, a sense of community shined through before the sun did. Friends and neighbors who were tired, cold, and restless rose to the challenge and exemplified hospitality and care at its finest.
Taking matters into their own hands, many rural residents used their own tractors and other farm equipment to clear the roads for their community to get to the store or their loved ones. Several people helped drivers out of ditches and updated the conditions of backroads before the local news could. Due to the weather, many local truck drivers were at home and decided to use their skill sets to take orders of items needed via phone or social media and deliver groceries and other necessities to those in need. From diapers and formula to groceries and medicine, these hometown heroes saved lives this week and likely don’t even realize the incredible impact they’ve had on their communities.
Living in the Deep South, we should know by now that we can’t change the weather. We compensate for that by changing the circumstances around us. We can grumble or get to work, and Mississippians always get to work and look for an opportunity to serve their neighbors.
Whether it’s a fluke ice storm, a tornado, a hurricane, or any challenge life throws our way, the Magnolia State takes care of each other. From supplies to genuine care and kindness, our state is like one giant phone tree where someone always answers. Appropriately named the Hospitality State, it’s a Mississippi thing.
