Jackson Free Press

PEARL, Miss. (AP) — John Purry nailed tarps onto the roof of his hail-damaged home on Wednesday, all too aware that more severe weather may be on its way.

Like hundreds of other people in central Mississippi, Purry's property was pounded Monday by one of the worst hail storms to hit the state in years. It rained down hailstones as big as baseballs, damaging hundreds of structures and even more cars.

Mississippi's capital city and its suburbs were particularly hard-hit, including the city of Pearl, where Purry lives with his wife and two daughters.

The threat of more severe weather this weekend only adds to their anxiety. Even nominal amounts of rain can be devastating for people like Purry, who has busted windows, broken siding and holes in his roof.

The coming weather has the potential to produce more hail, heavy rain and possibly tornadoes in Mississippi on Friday and Saturday, said David Cox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson.

It's still too early to know where the storms could hit, but officials say people with damage should secure their property the best they can.

"We're just trying to get some of these holes covered up to keep it from raining in here this weekend," said Purry, 48, shaking his head.

Purry's wife, Erika Bowden, said they don't have insurance and hope to get help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or from the state.

That may not happen. The government has not issued a federal disaster declaration for the storm because many homes have what is considered minor damage, meaning people can still live in them, said Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeff Rent.

And MEMA isn't structured to provide aid without the federal help, Rent said.

"But we're still looking at it," he said.

There's a chance the Small Business Administration could help some people, Rent said.

It's not yet known how many homes, businesses and government buildings were damaged in Monday's storms, but it's clear the amount is significant.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney estimates there will be 35,000 to 50,000 property and automobile insurance claims from Monday's storms.

MEMA said there was damage in 18 counties, but some of those include downed trees.

Chaney said Warren County, home to historic Vicksburg on the Mississippi River, was hit hard, as was the Jackson metro area.

More than 340 homes were damaged in Rankin County alone. An elementary school in Clinton remains closed with holes in the roof. The 350 sixth-grade students from Lovett Elementary will have classes in a vacant school that officials plan to convert to district offices.

Blue tarps stretched over red-tile roofs at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield, a sprawling 350-acre campus that provides psychiatric care, nursing homes and other services.

Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles from numerous agencies were trashed. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said more than 100 of its cars were damaged.

Jamie Cockrell, 30, said he could hardly believe the damage to his house in Rankin County when he got home Monday evening. Windows were busted. Siding was shredded. The roof took a pounding.

"I thought, 'What the ... ' Well, I can't say what I thought. It was bad. But it's going to be OK," Cockrell said Monday as an insurance adjuster looked over the damage.

Rent said people like Purry and Cockrell should try to secure their homes and vehicles before this weekend.

"Minor damage can turn into major damage with more weather on the way," Rent said.