NATCHEZ &045; Pam Zoerner sat under the trees at the Riverview RV Park, watching the Mississippi River flow by.

And just for a moment, she let thoughts of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath float away, too.

&uot;This is relaxing Š just the most beautiful place,&uot; she said.

Zoerner, a Slidell resident, is just one of hundreds &045; by some accounts, thousands &045; of evacuees that headed north to the Miss-Lou when the storm hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans.

But on Saturday, she and dozens of evacuees and locals left their cares behind to listen to some of the region’s favorite bands jam onstage as part of a benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The amount of money raised by the benefit for the hurricane’s victims wasn’t yet available as of press time.

However, while that was an important function of the event, it also served a duel purpose for Zoerner and others like her.

&uot;It’s a day to sit in the sunshine and listen to some good music. It gives the people who are staying here something different to do,&uot; said Glen McGlothin, marketing director for the Town of Vidalia.

He thanked all the sponsors who made in-kind donations to help the event get on its feet in just a short time. &uot;We’ve had a good response,&uot; McGlothin said.

McGlothin himself had just gotten offstage after leading a set with his band, Easy Eddie and the Partyrockers.

In the audience next to Zoerner sat Donna Latino. Latino, of the New Orleans suburb of Terrytown, is staying with family in Ridgecrest.

&uot;I had to get the kids out Š we were getting cabin fever,&uot; Latino said.

But just for a moment she, Zoerner and dozens of others had left the storm behind.