Gov. Phil Bryant tweeted at 11:41 a.m., “I have declared a State of Emergency for school districts affected by this week’s winter weather. The State Board of Education retains authority to decide if schools will make up any days missed.”

The proclamation reads, in part:

The State of Mississippi has been severely affected by a significant snow event, extreme and prolong subfreezing temperatures, ice and accompanying winter weather impacting all areas of the State of Mississippi, beginning on Jan. 15, 2018 and continuing; and this extreme winter weather has caused hazardous driving conditions, damage to homes, businesses, and public property, preventing access to and causing many schools to be closed; and these school closures may create a situation where it will not be economically feasible or practicable to operate some schools for the full one hundred eighty days required for a scholastic year; and in consideration of the health and safety of the residents and the protection of their property within the affected areas, and in the public interest, the State Board of Education shall review plans for altering the school calendar.

Therefore, I proclaim a State of Emergency to exist for all school districts in the State of Mississippi which were affected, or may be affected by, this extreme winter weather emergency.