How residents in Holmes County are staying warm and fed in the wake of the winter storm

Lexington’s only grocery store was shut down last month after a power outage left residents like Patrick Ushrey waiting outside.

“It’s been rough, but we maintaining. You know? It’s the only thing I can say, we’ve just gotta keep God first and keep going,” said Ushrey.

Utility companies say more than 85% of Holmes County lost electricity during the peak of the winter storm. Temperatures dropped into the teens while thick ice bent and broke trees, leaving roads nearly impossible for drivers.  Crews continue to work around the clock to clear debris, and residents like Ushrey have stepped in to help in recovery efforts.

“A couple of us, we went out and cut trees out of the roads going to Durant and some off here over in Ebenezer and we was able to let people get through,” said Ushrey. 

Some of the ice in Holmes County has started to melt, but it's still dangerously cold.  

While waiting for the grocery store to open, Ushrey pointed across the street to a line of cars at a gas station.

“I think it’s only one store here in  Lexington that’s running that I know of, and it’s Marathon right there with gas,” said Ushrey. “So thank God for that. Because if they wasn’t running, I don’t know where you would have to go for some gas. You’d have to travel. It would be very, very rough on us trying to get gas then because truck stop in Durant, don’t nobody have gas close by so you have to travel to get gas. So it’d really be bad.”

Dozens of cars are backed up at the pumps and a big 18-wheeler has just arrived to deliver more gasoline, hoping to ease the shortage.  

In line for gas is Lexington resident Ruby Hoover. She said the line is moving faster than her previous trip to refuel.  

“Here yesterday (Monday, January 26) we was in line about 30 minutes,” said Hoover. “We ain’t got but two stations. This station here, and the one on [Highway] 17 in the whole town.”

At home, Hoover said they don't have electricity and they've been trying to stay warm.

She said  “We got butane gas, so it’s about to run out because [the store’s] not open either. All my food has spoiled in the refrigerator, I don’t have anything. Church woman went to Madison yesterday to get me four of those bottled waters. So that’s how I’m trying to survive, washing up, fix something you know. Because we don’t have anything.”

It's still not clear when power will be restored for her home.

“There’s a power line down at my house. So I’m afraid of that. And I’m trying to get in touch with Yazoo Valley and they won’t even answer the telephone to really know what’s going on at my home,” said Hoover. “I’ve got two hot wires across my garage.”

UpdateOne restaurant is open; Gladys’, a local favorite. The power’s out, but the crew bundled up, fired up a generator, and kept cooking. Older residents and construction crews are stopping in for hot meals before heading back into the cold.  

Waitress Bernice Williams hasn’t had power since Sunday, January 25. She’s been staying with a friend, but today she’s serving comfort food to neighbors who need it.  

Williams said “I’ve been calling Delta Electric in Greenwood Mississippi. They don’t know when they’re gonna get us.”

Regardless of her own situation, Williams said she jumped at the opportunity to help serve food during the power outage. “It really is a big help. And as you can see, the power’s out. But we made a way to feed the community with them buying their lunch, or if they don’t have [money], then we’ve worked it out.”

Temperatures in Lexington are finally rising and so some of the ice is starting to melt. Still, with no clear timeline for when power will be restored, residents are hoping they can work together to keep warm and stay fed.

Back at the Sunflower Grocery store, Patrick Ushrey waited in his truck to see if he could buy some food for a free community potluck he's throwing.

“The community’s been coming together. We had a guy, Mr. Stewart, he paid for so many people’s gas [to be] free. Elderlies, we had another guy, he supplied water and snacks and stuff to some of the elderlies and people around,” said Ushrey. “So we have people that’s actually trying to help, and doing it, and not just standing around with their hands in their pockets.”

Holmes County is starting to pick up the pieces. But just a few hours north, ice still gripped communities, making even simple trips dangerous. 

Editor's Note:  Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association disputes the claim that live wires were on the home.