When Mobile, Ala., residents James McClantoc and his wifeBeverly had to evacuate as Hurricane Dennis approached the GulfCoast Saturday, they sought out Brookhaven as a safe haven from thestorm.

“I just feel safe here,” James McClantoc said Sunday as hefollowed weather reports at Faith Presbyterian Church, which openedSaturday as an American Red Cross shelter.

James McClantoc said he and his wife came to Brookhaven a coupleof years ago during another hurricane evacuation. He said the Lordled him back to Brookhaven this time.

“Every time I come here, it’s really been perfect…,” saidMcClantoc, expressing appreciation to the volunteers who helped manthe shelter. “I love these people. They’re good as gold.”

The McClantocs were among 85 evacuees from the Mississippi,Alabama and Florida coast. Shelter occupancy was down to around 18by Sunday afternoon after a weekend softball tournament concludedand allowed evacuees to move into local hotel and motel rooms.

With Hurricane Dennis striking in Florida, Brookhaven-LincolnCounty Civil Defense Director Clifford Galey said Mississippievacuees should be able to return home today. He did not have wordthis morning on Alabama and Florida evacuees, although he indicatedthey also could be allowed to leave.

“I would expect they would be able to get closer to home,” Galeysaid.

McClantoc said he hoped to be able to leave the shelter today.However, he knows where the Lord will lead him if there is anotherhurricane evacuation in the future.

“I’ll keep coming here until he tells me to stop and changedirections,” McClantoc said.

Brookhaven was also a familiar destination for Ocean Springsresident Elizabeth MacMahon and her family. The Mississippi Schoolof the Arts student, her sister Colleen and parents James andKatherine headed for Brookhaven early Sunday morning after anevacuation was ordered for low-lying areas of Hancock County.

“It’s a really nice town,” said MacMahon, who will be comingback to Brookhaven in about a month for her senior year at MSA.

MacMahon was in Brookhaven as a student last year whenevacuations were ordered for Hurricane Ivan.

“It seems like more people were here for Ivan,” she said.

With Dennis packing less punch than anticipated, Galey wasanticipating short stays for shelter occupants this time.

“I would really hope we could close the shelter today sometime,”said Galey, who was planning an update for visitors around 10a.m.

As for the impact of the hurricane on Lincoln County, Galeyestimated less than an inch of rain and only minor damage.

“We had a couple of trees down and a couple of accidents causedby the weather,” Galey said. “Other that than, there was nothingmajor.”

Galey also expressed appreciation to city, county and emergencyservices officials and volunteers for their help in response to thestorm.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” Galey said.