Hey Olive Branch!
Yesterday's warmer temperatures and today's sunshine greatly helped our team clear roadways. BUT just because you can SEE the roadway, Ice is still possible!
Roadways are going to remain slick even if cleared. If you have to get out today, clear off all ice off of your hood, windshield, and roof before operating your vehicle. Non-essential individuals are asked to stay home. If you must get out, go slow, give yourself time to stop, and be mindful of emergency crews and public works crews. MDOT will still be on State managed Interstates and highways. Public works will continue to address main streets, bridges, and hills in our community before moving to secondary roadways.
Garbage Collection
The City of Olive Branch is working closely with Waste Connections to monitor weather conditions to resume Garbage and Recycling Collection. Currently, Waste Connections is still assessing when they can safely resume service to our City. A decision will be made Sunday evening.
In the meantime, Waste Connections will be placing a dumpster for use on Monday. This location will be shared upon final confirmation over the weekend.
Waste Connections has shared that they will do their best to pick up overflow once they are able to resume service safely. If possible, please place as much bagged garbage inside your cart as possible. Any additional overflow should be bagged and placed on or near your carts.
Due to inclement weather, Waste Connections was unable to service routes on Saturday, January 24th through Friday January 30th.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. We appreciate your cooperation and patience.
Weather Conditions & Household Need-to-Knows
Temperatures will dip below freezing this weekend. It is advisable to drip your faucets, bring in pets and plants, and of course check on your people.
All residents should monitor ice buildup and be mindful of potential structural failure. Slanted roofs may have solid sheets of ice, that may move as they melt. Thawing and refreezing will add more weight to structures still covered with ice.
Residents should also check on pipes. If you have a frozen pipe, safely thaw it by turning on the affected faucet and applying gentle heat (such as a hair dryer or warm towels) starting near the faucet and working toward the frozen area. Never use open flames or boiling water. Once water is flowing, check for leaks.
Residents who’ve sustained damage from this severe winter weather event should do the following:
• File an insurance claim.
• Take photos of the damage to the home.
• Report damage to their county/MEMA via the self-report tool.
Please stay off of frozen ponds, lakes, and creeks. The ice is not thick enough to support weight.
If you must get out, please clear off your hood, windshield, and roof before driving. Flying chunks of ice can damage your windshield and others.
Road Conditions
Mississippi Department of Transportation has reopened I22/HWY 78. However, MDOT Crews will remain in this area. If you do not need to take this interstate, MDOT is asking folks to stay out of the area while they continue to remove ice and remaining debris. This closure is to treat roadways and assist trucks and vehicles that have been stuck due to icy conditions.
Many roadways and highways still have black ice or patches of ice. The sunlight continues to help with clearing roadways, but as temperatures dip back below freezing, ice will remain.
Roadways are going to be slick. Clear off all ice off of your hood, windshield, and roof before operating your vehicle. Non-essential individuals are asked to stay home. If you must get out, go slow, give yourself time to stop, and be mindful of emergency crews and public works crews.
Our City Public Works and Fleet Services departments have worked around the clock since Winter Storm Fern's arrival. The sunshine greatly helped our efforts in clearing key roadways. However, our City has over 350 linear miles of roadways that we continue to address.
If you need to monitor road conditions, you can check out the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) 's free traffic resources to monitor live road conditions at https://www.mdottraffic.com/landing.aspx .
Warming Centers
Warming Centers in Olive Branch, Southaven, and Hernando remain open for those in need.
Olive Branch: 9549 Pigeon Roost Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654 on the campus of Olive Branch Elementary.
Southaven: 312 Hwy 51 N Southaven, MS
Hernando: The Gale Center 601 Elm Street, Hernando, MS
State Updates:
Governor Tate Reeves shared this update Thursday, January 29.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has received reports of 223 homes, 10 businesses, and seven farms damaged, destroyed or affected statewide. Additionally, 20 public roads have sustained major damage, 50 sustained minor damage, and 12 have been destroyed. Two bridges have sustained minor damage. Those numbers are expected to rise as damage assessments continue.Power companies have deployed thousands of linemen to help restore power as quickly as possible. Approximately 98,850 outages remain throughout the state, down from a high of about 180,000.
The state of Mississippi welcomes all volunteers who want to help; however, we encourage individuals to avoid self-deploying. Instead, please join a verified organization or nonprofit that assists during disasters before heading to the affected area. For other ways to help our fellow Mississippians, visit the January Winter Weather page on the MEMA website at January 2026 Winter Weather | Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Gratitude
Thank you to our public works, police, fire, and emergency crews who are working through these conditions, and thank you to residents for continuing to look out for one another during this storm. Our City is blessed in many ways, but mainly for the kindness we have for one another.
Follow updates on the http://www.obms.us/winterstorm2026 page for the latest city updates or connect with us on social media. Stay safe, Olive Branch.