With the Lincoln County area seeing minimal effects fromHurricane Ivan, emergency response officials were updating coastalMississippi, Louisiana and Florida evacuees on weather conditionsand preparing for the return trips to their homes this morning.

Citing contact with the Louisiana State Police, Lincoln CountyCivil Defense Director Clifford Galey said a closed section ofInterstate 55 between Hammond and New Orleans was expected toreopen around noon today. A curfew for the city of New Orleans wasalso scheduled to lifted around that time.

“They’re asking people to be careful going back,” Galey saidabout Louisiana evacuees who would be returning home.

Galey said officials were asking coastal Mississippi evacuees tonot return home until given an OK by the Mississippi EmergencyManagement Agency or local American Red Cross shelters.

“That information will be filtered down as soon as we get it,”Galey said.

Galey said a Jackson County curfew had been lifted and one forHarrison County was to be lifted around noon. He said Mississippiofficials have not received enough good information aboutconditions in Florida and Alabama to advise evacuees.

“People from Florida and Alabama are asked not to return untilwe get better information,” said Galey, adding that news would bepassed along as soon as it becomes available.

Staff Sgt. Rod Crawford, public affairs officer for theBrookhaven Mississippi Highway Patrol district, said there was auniform exodus of people leaving Louisiana over a three-day periodearlier this week. He was fearful that return trips would not be soorderly.

“I’m worried that the interstate is going to be extremely busytoday, as well as U.S. 84 and U.S. 98,” Crawford said.

Crawford said troopers would be concentrating their efforts onthose highways, as well as U.S. 61, to assist motorists who havevehicle troubles. He added that Capt. Rusty Brill had put districttroopers on 12-hour shifts to handle the expected trafficincrease.

Galey was traveling to local shelters this morning to giveevacuees information about weather conditions and road openings.With some Alabama and Florida evacuees here, he expected theshelters to be open at least through today and maybe intoFriday.

“As long as we’re needed, we’ll have a shelter open for them,”Galey said.

Officials with Entergy Mississippi said crews had returned toMississippi and were preparing to respond to areas impacted byIvan. A company news release said it would be committing tremendousamounts of personnel and equipment to the storm, and that couldaffect other areas.

“Customers in unaffected areas will experience longer responsetimes due to the resources we must commit to this powerful storm,”the release said. “All of our customers can be assured, though,that we are working hard to meet all of their service needs.”

As far as the local weather impact from the hurricane, officialsreported minimal damage. Crawford said there were two downed treeson Mississippi 48 near Magnolia late Wednesday.

“That’s the only weather-related activity I’m showing,” Crawfordsaid.

Galey said Lincoln County was seeing winds of 20-25 miles perhour, with gusts up to 35 mph.

“That should last through about 4:00 this afternoon,” saidGaley, adding that the area should see little rain as long as Ivanstays on its easterly track.

Galey said a late easterly turn by Ivan sparred most ofMississippi from severe storm damage. Crawford agreed.

“We got extremely lucky,” Crawford said.

Crawford said six troopers from the Brookhaven district, agentsfrom the Bureau of Investigations and public affairs officers fromacross the state had been put on notice to be ready to respond tothe Hattiesburg or Biloxi districts. However, with situation as itis, he said he did not appear that assistance would be needed.

“There should be enough uniformed staff already in place forthat,” Crawford said.

In Lincoln County, Galey complimented everyone from sheltervolunteers to elected officials on their response and assistance toevacuees.

“They’ve all done a great job,” Galey said. “We’ve had noproblems of any kind, from the shelters to anything else.”