The town holds the Jones County Courthouse and much of the county government, while Laurel, the second seat, is about 8 miles northeast. Hattiesburg is roughly 22 miles southwest. The 2020 census recorded 4,652 residents and 1,501 housing units.
Fire & Water Energy only refers; we never take on the cleanup. Phone (866) 937-3230 and we will try to reach an independent contractor who handles restoration work in Ellisville. Whether a provider can take the job depends on local availability. The referral disclosure covers the details.
Pine forests, heavy rain and Jones County storm declarations
Settlers described this county in 1826 as pine forests and swamps, and part of De Soto National Forest still lies within it. Weather records from Laurel, eight miles up the road, show about 59.6 inches of precipitation on nearly 118 days a year, with January lows averaging around 35 degrees and an all-time low of 1 below zero.
Since 2000, FEMA has included Jones County in declarations for Hurricanes Ivan (2004), Dennis and Katrina (2005), Isaac (2012) and Ida (2021). Severe storms with tornadoes or flooding were declared in 2014, 2016, 2019, twice in 2020 and in 2023, and a severe winter storm followed in 2026.
Water damage repair for Ellisville houses and rentals
Wind-driven rain during tropical systems and spring storms often enters through roofs, soffits and around windows. Inside, failed water heaters, washing machine hoses and toilet supply lines cause many claims, and a rental unit can sit with a slow leak for weeks before anyone reports it. Occasional hard freezes can also crack exposed pipes.
Water damage restoration in Ellisville typically involves finding the source, extracting water, testing walls and floors for hidden moisture and drying with commercial equipment. Repairs follow once readings are normal. Our water damage repair page covers that rebuild stage.
Federal disaster declarations that included Jones County
FEMA records show Jones County was included in 13 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (6 severe storm, 5 hurricane, 1 winter storm, 1 flood, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Ellisville was affected. The most recent:
- 2026 – Severe Winter Storm (DR-4899)
- 2023 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes. (DR-4727)
- 2021 – Hurricane Ida (DR-4626)
- 2020 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4551)
- 2020 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4536)
- 2019 – Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornado (DR-4415)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.
Water, fire or storm damage in Ellisville?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Ellisville property.
Handling smoke and fire damage near Jones College
Cooking accidents, electrical faults and portable heaters are leading causes of house fires, and hurricane outages raise the risk from generators and candles. Shared housing and apartments can also see smoke travel between units through attics and ducts.
A restoration company generally boards up openings, removes debris, dries hose water and cleans soot from surfaces before treating odor. For tenants, the landlord's insurer and your renter's policy may each play a role. How residue gets cleaned out of a house or apartment is covered under smoke damage cleanup.
Storm, flood and tornado cleanup in southeast Mississippi
Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage ditches and low ground, and flooding was named in several recent Jones County declarations. Tornado and straight-line wind events, including the 2023 outbreak, bring downed pines, roof damage and broken windows.
Water entering from outdoors should be treated as contaminated, so porous materials it soaked are usually removed and the structure disinfected and dried. Roof tarping and tree removal come before interior work. See storm water damage restoration and hurricane damage cleanup for the full sequence.
Mold prevention in a humid pine-country town
With nearly 60 inches of precipitation and long, sticky summers, mold can appear within days on wet drywall, carpet pad or wood framing. Crawlspaces, closets on exterior walls and HVAC closets with condensate leaks deserve regular checks.
The EPA recommends professional cleanup for areas above roughly 10 square feet or after contaminated water. Effective work includes containment, HEPA filtration, removal of affected porous materials and a fix for the moisture source. Read about mold remediation.
What to do first in Ellisville
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, a gas smell or downed power lines.
- Shelter in a sturdy interior room during tornado warnings, and stay put until the storm has passed.
- Turn off the water main if a pipe or fixture is leaking.
- Renters should notify the landlord right away and photograph their own belongings.
- Take pictures before cleanup and call your insurer or agent; coverage depends on the policy.
Call (866) 937-3230 to ask about a contractor, or browse our Mississippi listings.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Ellisville):
- Laurel · 7 mi
- Petal · 18 mi
- Hattiesburg · 20 mi
- West Hattiesburg · 22 mi
- Waynesboro · 33 mi
- Magee · 37 mi
Ellisville restoration FAQs
Is Ellisville or Laurel the county seat?
Both. Ellisville was Jones County's first seat and holds the courthouse and much of county government, while Laurel became a second seat and is the larger city about 8 miles northeast.
I rent near Jones College and found water under the sink. What should I do?
Shut off the valve under the sink if you can, tell your landlord in writing and take photos. The landlord is usually responsible for the building, while renter's insurance may cover your belongings depending on the policy.
Do hurricanes still cause damage this far from the coast?
Yes. Jones County was part of FEMA declarations for Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Isaac and Ida. Inland effects usually include strong winds, fallen trees, power outages and heavy rain.
How rainy is the Ellisville area?
Laurel, the nearest station on our sources, averages about 59.6 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 118 days a year. Keep gutters clear and check the roof after each major storm.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Repair
- Storm Water Damage Restoration
- Hurricane Damage Cleanup
- Smoke Damage Cleanup
- Mold Remediation
- Water Damage Restoration