As the Jackson water crisis deepens, help is coming in different shapes and sizes.
Late Tuesday, Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons invited Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders, his coaching staff and players to stay in the Delta city.
Coach Prime and the JSU Tigers were forced to leave campus in search of new lodgings and practice facilities after one of Jackson’s water treatment facilities failed and sent the city’s water woes to new heights.
Simmons said area business leaders and other community stakeholders agreed to provide food and housing assistance to the team. The city also will provide a practice field, particularly important as the Tigers prepare for Sunday’s game against FAMU at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Jackson State:Water crisis forces Tigers, Deion Sanders to leave campus before FAMU game
“‘Love,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘appreciate you’ to everyone that’s flooded us with messages, that desires to give us donations, that just want to ride with us,” Sanders said in a video statement on Twitter. “You have no idea what that means to us. You are unbelievable.”
In addition, Simmons announced a water drive through Sept. 15 in Greenville to ship bottled water to the capital city. Water may be dropped off at Greenville fire stations 1, 2 and 5, 532 Central St., 623 East Union St. and 2337 East Alexander St.
“When our neighbor is in need, we are in need and should lend a helping hand,” Simmons said in a news release. “The Bible commands us to love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Jackson water crisis:Mayor welcomes state help as governor plans his own path
Simmons, a 2000 graduate of JSU, is father of Tigers football player Errick Simmons.
Neither Simmons nor JSU media relations responded to requests for comment. It is unclear where the team is located or whether Sanders accepted Simmons’ offer.
Jackson has been under a state-mandated boil-water notice for over a month. Low water pressure has plagued areas of the city.
While the capital city’s aging water and sewer system has been an issue for years, the water crisis came to a head Monday, when state and local officials learned one of the water treatment plants had failed after weeks of heavy rain and flooding.
Gov. Tate Reeves and Mayor Chokwe Lumumba declared states of emergency Monday. On Tuesday, Reeves sought federal assistance in combatting Jackson’s water woes. Late Tuesday night, the White House responded in the affirmative.
FEMA will be directing federal response.
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