Local officials are preparing for the wind, rain and damage they expect to hit the local area as Tropical Storm Isaac develops into a hurricane, makes landfall and moves inland in the coming days.

     “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see the eye come right over Brookhaven,” Lincoln County Civil Defense Director Clifford Galey told area officials at a Monday planning meeting.

     However, Galey also offered optimism.

     “This is not going to be like Hurricane Katrina,” said Galey, referencing the 2005 storm.

     Galey said he expects winds and rain to enter the Lincoln County area sometime Tuesday evening. Current forecasts say Lincoln County could receive 6 to 8 inches of rain, but Galey expects that number to be revised upwards to anticipate 12 to 14 inches of rain.

     Brookhaven could see sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and gusts of 60 to 65 miles per hour.

     “I think once this starts up, we will have tropical storm force winds,” Galey said, anticipating that wind and rain could last a full 24 hours.

     Lincoln County schools are dismissing at 1 p.m. Tuesday with no classes on Wednesday, according to the district’s website. Superintendent Terry Brister said a decision will be made Wednesday afternoon about classes for the rest of the week.

     Brookhaven School District officials said late Monday that classes will meet Tuesday and dismiss at 1 p.m. A decision about Wednesday will be made later Tuesday.

     Brookhaven Academy will dismiss classes at 1 p.m. Tuesday. No decision has been made about Wednesday classes.

     Copiah-Lincoln Community College President Dr. Ronnie Nettles told officials Co-Lin will close Tuesday at 2 p.m., with evening classes and canceled and remain closed on Wednesday. Like Lincoln County schools, a decision will be made Wednesday about the rest of the week’s classes.

     The Mississippi School of the Arts released students living south of Highway 98 Monday. All other students will be released Tuesday, with classes set to resume Monday.

     Franklin County schools were expected to close at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday with classes not set to resume until Friday.

     Lawrence County had a full day of classes planned for Tuesday, with no decision yet made on Wednesday classes.

     Copiah County School District officials said no decision had been made about class cancellations at Wesson Attendance Center.

     Galey said there are no plans to open shelters in Brookhaven.