Mississippi Governor Declares State of Emergency, Tells Residents Not to Drink Water

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, here speaking at the White House in September 2020, is lobbying lawmakers to eliminate the state’s income tax in 2023. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The governor of Mississippi declared a state of emergency for Jackson, the state capital, after a water treatment plant failed, and urged residents not to drink the water.

“Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale. It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets, and to meet other critical needs,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in reference to the emergency over the treatment plant.