State’s primary mental health facility heavily damaged by storm

WHITFIELD — An official says hail damage could exceed more than $1 million at Mississippi’s primary psychiatric hospital and a nearby facility for people with developmental disabilities.

The Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield and the Hudspeth Regional Center in Rankin County were hit hard by Monday’s storm.

Now a race is on to patch up the damaged before more weather is expected to move in this weekend.

Scott Sumrall is the disaster coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

He says most of the buildings at Whitfield had damaged roofs or broken window.

Hudspeth also took a major hit.

Sumrall says the damage could exceed $1 million.

He says authorities are trying to prepare for the possibility of more weather Friday and Saturday.