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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
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Hurricane Gustav National Weather Service

Are you fleeing Gustav and looking for housing? You can find a list of emergency shelters in Mississippi here. Print a Red Cross evacuation plan here. Here’s a checklist of the supplies you need.

For links to and lists of other housing information, go to the Jackpedia Hurricane Gustav wiki. If you have space available, in a private home or otherwise, please post here. If you have special requests for housing help, please add here. You can click here to check hotel availability in Mississippi.

You can also e-mail requests directly to [e-mail missing] and we will post it for you.

Previous Comments

Heads-up: The Clarion-Ledger is linking on its front page to this hotel listing. But you can’t tell which hotels are already full. A faster option would be to go here to find out which towns still have any lodging open. It should save you a lot of time so you don’t waste your time scrolling through the Ledger site for naught. For other up-to-date Gustav resources, links and emergency numbers, visit our Hurricane Gustav wiki on Jackpedia. We’re trying to keep it as pertinent and relevant as possible, and please help us add needed information (or request what you need).


For information on shelters for Gustav evacuees: 1-866-472-8265


From the Natchez Democrat: At present, there are no hotel rooms left in Natchez, and most of the bed and breakfast properties around the area are also booked, yet the phone calls keep coming. I am writing to ask that if anyone has a room, or rooms, they would like to either rent or provide at no charge, to please call the Natchez Visitor Reception Center at 601-446-6345 and allow us to add you to the list. Many of the evacuees also have pets and small children, so if you are willing to accept either or both, please inform the visitor center staff when you call. If you are a veterinarian or anyone who boards animals, large or small, please call the visitor center and provide the staff with your contact information, as we’ve had a number of people ask about boarding.


MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: 866-920-MEMA “Disaster Preparedness Saves Lives and Property” Visit us online at www.msema.org Media Contact 866-920-MEMA 1:05 p.m. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 31, 2008 MEMA: It is not too late to evacuate PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management encourages those evacuating South Mississippi to contact 2-1-1 Information Services by calling either 211 or 1-866-472-8265 for more information about shelters. Many local entities and private organizations have opened shelters throughout the state. The list of shelters opening and closing is continually changing, and the most accurate information can be obtained from 2-1-1 Information Services. Those wanting to volunteer are also encouraged to use the same phone numbers. # # #


In his press conference at 5 p.m., Barbour said 49 shelters are open in the state; 11 are full. About 2,800 people are in the shelters as of this moment and will increase. To get direction to shelters with space, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 1-866-519-MEMA, Barbour said. Womack said they are setting up additional lines with extra people to take the calls. Also, MEMA is reporting that both Memphis and Jackson are booked, hotel-wise.


Tonight, word is that the shelters in the Jackson Metro are full, and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department is looking for more space for evacuees. Call Steve Pickett at 601.260.9876 if you can help provide housing. WAPT also reported that people from the Coast weren’t allowed to bring their pets on the buses, and that seems to have caused some issues.


Aug. 31, Sunday: More than 40 shelters are open throughout Mississippi PEARL – As of 6 p.m. more than 3,400 Hurricane Gustav evacuees were listed in shelters throughout Mississippi. There are 42 shelters open in the state at this time. The list of open shelters will be updated regularly by MEMA. Call the following numbers for the most recent information: 1-866-519- MEMA, 1-800-Red-Cross, 2-1-1 or 1-866-472-8265. Currently, shelters in Mississippi can accommodate up to 192,143 evacuees. People who plan to stay at a shelter should bring the following: Clothes for three to five days Medications Blanket, pillow Personal hygiene items Identification Accommodations for children (personal items, entertainment, toys) For more information call MEMA’s Public Information Line at 866-519-MEMA or the Media line at 866-920-MEMA or visit www.msema.org. ###

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.