In-state Hurricane Evacuation Routes
When it comes to a hurricane, don’t take chances. Regardless of the projected path of the storm, always travel northbound. DO NOT evacuate parallel to the coast. Also consider taking an alternate evacuation route to avoid traffic congestion on Highway 49.
From Jackson County:
- Hwy 57 to Hwy 45N at state line to I-20 at
Meridian - Hwy 57 to Hwy 98W at McLain to Hwy 15N to
I-20 at Newton - Hwy 63 to Hwy 57N to Hwy 45N to I-20 at
Meridian
From Harrison County:
- Hwy 53 to Hwy 26W at Poplarville to Hwy 43N
to Hwy 13N * - Hwy 15 to Hwy 26E to Hwy 57N to Hwy 45N at
State Line to I-20 at Meridian - Hwy 15 to Hwy 26W to Hwy 43N then to Hwy
13N * - Hwy 67 to Hwy 49N to Hwy 26, then either
eastbound or westbound
From Hancock County:
- Hwy 43 to Hwy 13N *
- Hwy 603N to Hwy 53N to Hwy 26W to Hwy
43N to Hwy 13N * - I-10W to I-59N to I-20 at Meridian
From Hwy 49 Below Hattiesburg:
- Traveling East
At Wiggins, take Hwy 29N to I-59 at Ellisville to
I-20 at Meridian - Traveling West
At Wiggins, take Hwy 26W to Hwy 43N to
Hwy 13N * - *Options at Highway 13
Hwy 13N to I-20 at Morton or
Hwy 13N to Hwy 28W to Hwy 27N to I-55 or
onto I-20 at Vicksburg
From Hwy 49 Above Hattiesburg:
- At Collins
- Hwy 84W either to I-55 at Brookhaven to I-20
- at Jackson or to Hwy 61 at Natchez north to I-20
- at Vicksburg or west back into Louisiana
- At Mount Olive
Hwy 35N to I-20 at Forest - At Magee
Hwy 28W to Hwy 27N to I-55 or onto I-20 at
Vicksburg - At Mendenhall
Hwy 13N to I-20 at Morton - At Florence
Hwy 469N to Hwy 468W to I-20 at Brandon
From I-59 Above Hattiesburg:
- At Ellisville
Hwy 29N to Hwy 28W to Hwy 35N to I-20 at
Forest - At Laurel
Hwy 84E to Hwy 45N at Waynesboro to I-20 at
Meridian
From Hwy 98 Between Alabama
State Line & Hattiesburg:
- Hwy 63 to Hwy 45N to I-20 at Meridian
- Hwy 57 to Hwy 45N at State Line to I-20 at
Meridian - Hwy 15 to I-20 at Newton or I-59 to Meridian
- Hwy 29 to I-59 at Ellisville or onto Hwy 28W to
Hwy 27N to I-55 or onto I-20 at Vicksburg
Hattiesburg Traffic Control
MDOT will enforce the following procedures in the Hattiesburg area to avoid severe congestion at the
intersections of three major routes.
- Northbound traffic on Hwy 49 may NOT be allowed to exit at either Hwy 98 or I-59.
- Northbound traffic on I-59 can ONLY exit at Hwy 11 (Exit 60) or West on Hardy Street/Hwy 98 (Exit
65). - Westbound traffic on Hwy 98 may NOT be allowed to exit onto Hwy 49, but directed to merge onto
I-59 instead.
Contraflow Plans
Interstates 59 and 55 Contraflow Plans
In an effort to assist the state of Louisiana, MDOT will
implement contraflow (lane reversal) for both I-59
and I-55 when requested by Louisiana and approved
by the Governor of Mississippi. Category III, IV or V
hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico are situations that
might cause a mandatory evacuation of the greater
New Orleans area. (Contraflow operations cannot be
considered on Highway 49).
The decision to contraflow is NOT automatic
and will only be used when absolutely
necessary. Citizens should not delay their
evacuation plans in anticipation of contraflow.
The I-59 contraflow operations would begin in
Louisiana, extend into Mississippi, and end just
south of Hattiesburg.
The I-55 contraflow operations would begin in
Louisiana, extend into Mississippi, and end just
south of Brookhaven.
All exits within the contraflowed sections of the
interstate highways will remain open as traffic
conditions allow. Law Enforcement Officers will
be present to assist with traffic control.
The shoulders of both Interstates 59 and 55
should be kept clear for emergency vehicles.
Motorists needing to stop should use the next
available exit.
Hancock County residents traveling West into
Louisiana on I-10 will be routed North onto
I-59 at the I-10/I-12 split.
Tune-in to Mississippi Public Broadcasting
radio stations for emergency information and
updated road conditions (see Radio Coverage
Radio Coverage Areas
Biloxi 90.3
Meridan 88.1
Bude 88.9
Jackson 91.3
Greenwood 90.9
Miss. State 89.9
Oxford 90.3
Boonville 89.5
Contact Information
MDOT
1-866-521-MDOT (1-866-521-6368)
www.GoMDOT.com
MS Highway Patrol
601-987-1212 (*HP from any cell)
www.dps.state.ms.us
MEMA
1-800-222-MEMA (1-800-222-6362)
www.msema.org
Lodging (Mississippi Tourism)
1-866-SEE-MISS
(1-866-733-6477)
www.visitmississippi.org
Campsites
(MS Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks)
1-800-GO-PARKS
(Park Reservations 1-800-467-2757)
www.mdwfp.com
Animal Shelters
(MS Board of Animal Health)
1-888-646-8731
www.mbah.state.ms.us
MS Department of Health . . . .
1-866-458-4948
www.HealthyMS.com
MS Insurance Department
1-800-562-2957
www.mid.ms.gov
MS Division of Medicaid
1-800-421-2408
www.medicaid.ms.gov
211 MS, United Way
211 or 1-866-472-8265
www.211ms.com
Louisiana DOTD
1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683)
www.emergency.louisiana.gov
Louisiana State Police
1-800-469-4828
www.lsp.org
Alabama DOT
1-888-588-2848
www.dot.state.al.us
Alabama Highway Patrol
1-334-242-4393
www.dps.alabama.gov
Arkansas HTD
1-800-245-1672
www.arkansashighways.com
Arkansas State Police
1-501-618-8000
www.asp.arkansas.gov
Tennessee DOT
1-877-244-0065
smartway.tn.gov
Tennessee Highway Patrol
615-251-5175
*847 (within Tennessee)
www.tn.gov/safety/thp.shtml
Georgia DOT
1-888-635-8287 or 1-404-635-6800
511ga.org
Georgia State Patrol
1-404-624-7000
dps.georgia.gov/georgia-state-patrol-0
Florida DOT
1-850-414-4350
www.dot.state.fl.us
Florida Highway Patrol
1-800-459-6861
www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic
and www.fl511.com
American Red Cross
1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636)
www.redcross.org/mississippi
Note: phone number is only active
during crisis situations
FEMA
1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
www.fema.gov
and www.disasterassistance.gov