NATCHEZ &045; New Orleans resident Penny Hendryx rose early on Tuesday at her home near Ochsner Hospital, between U.S. 90 and River Road.

She already had lowered the wooden window blinds, placed rugs between the screen and wooden doors and covered outside doors with tarpaulins, weighting them at the bottom with garden soil in hope the water wouldn’t seep underneath when the expected storm surges from Hurricane Ivan reach the Louisiana coast.

Hendryx, 79, had one more important task before heading north for Natchez &045; traveling across town to the Audubon Park area to fetch her sister, Ollie Ortiz, who is 89.

&uot;I met them in McComb,&uot; said Ken Attenhoffer of Natchez. Hendryx is the aunt of Ken’s wife, Jeanie Attenhoffer; Ortiz is Jeanie’s mother. He led them from McComb, where they left the crowded Interstate to less crowded roads through Franklin County and on to Natchez.

Hendryx said New Orleans residents had begun to flock into places such as Home Depot the day before. &uot;You could hardly get into it if you wanted to buy plywood,&uot; she said. Because of her wooden blinds, she had no need to board up windows.

&uot;We brought my dog. It’s the first time she’s traveled. And we brought all our important papers, our medicines and what clothes we could think of bringing,&uot; Hendryx said.

Other hurricanes have left her section of town with flooded streets, Hendryx said. &uot;But my house

withstood (Hurricane) Betsy. So I think it will be all right.&uot;

Because the Attenhoffer household includes cats, Hendryx decided to look for a place to board her dog. &uot;Dr. Savant was so nice to take her. That’s where she is,&uot; she said.

At the veterinarian’s office, his mother, Phyllis Savant, said indeed the kennels are filling up with refugee dogs and cats. &uot;We have about 10,&uot; she said. &uot;We had people call ahead to make reservations.&uot;

Some restaurants are experiencing one upside to Ivan: increased business.

Peter Trosclair, owner of Biscuits and Blues, said the restaurant was packed at lunchtime.

&uot;Anytime a hurricane warning is out for New Orleans, people come to Natchez,&uot; he said.

Hyman Bartolo’s family was among them. They left early Tuesday morning and arrived in Natchez in time to get a personal tour from Trosclair &045; even though they had never met him.

&uot;I wouldn’t get in a car with a stranger&uot; in New Orleans, he said.

Becky Felder and Brenda Cuevas traveled from Bay St. Louis with Brenda’s daughter Carsen. Natchez was one of the few places where they could find a room. They aren’t sure how long they will have to stay, although Felder laughed that she doesn’t want to go back &uot;until there’s air conditioning.&uot;

The friends, who are next-door neighbors, plan to enjoy themselves while they are in Natchez.

&uot;We’re not going to listen to the radio&uot; or weather reports,&uot; Felder said.

Both cancer survivors, the friends said they aren’t going to worry about their property.

&uot;Whatever happens, happens,&uot; Cuevas said.

Others were looking to make the most of a difficult weeks as well.

At Sligo Plantation, Christina Johnson is preparing to receive a possible 10 overnight guests a few days early.

With her Sweet South Swango Weekend scheduled to begin Friday, Johnson anticipated her guests’ arrival on that day &045; up to three musicians and seven tango dancers, all coming from New Orleans and now coming sooner to escape Ivan.

&uot;I’m getting beds ready, getting plenty of candles and flashlights and I even have a camp stove in case the electricity goes out,&uot; Johnson said late Tuesday. &uot;This is life. And there’s always a really good time for humor.&uot;

Johnson’s weekend of dance is still on schedule, she said, with events planned Friday, Saturday and Sunday.