NATCHEZ &045;&045; Call it cocky or just optimistic, but many locals weren’t too worried about Rita Friday afternoon.

Sure, some folks prepared. The bread aisles at local grocery stores showed some signs of worry, but the bread was by no means all gone. Wal-Mart had more than enough milk, and for every person leaving the store with bottled water and flashlights there was another walking out with a large screen TV, a book or a child’s toy.

&uot;I haven’t really thought about it,&uot; Lisa Chandler said as she picked out greeting cards at Wal-Mart. &uot;I’m thinking that since it’s hitting west of here we aren’t going to get much. I’m being optimistic.&uot;

Of course, Chandler admitted her house was still semi-stocked from Katrina.

&uot;I feel pretty safe here,&uot; Mary Lewis said. &uot;We most likely won’t get much. We are beginning to get rain, but we are still so blessed.&uot;

Mamie Hayes of Harvey, La., has been staying with her dad since Katrina, but she said they weren’t doing much to stock up this time around.

&uot;We are only getting batteries,&uot; she said. &uot;I can take anything now.&uot;

But for many of the evacuees &045;&045; Katrina’s and Rita’s &045;&045; it’s once bitten, twice shy.

&uot;We’re getting juice, water, ice, all the necessities,&uot; New Orleans native Verna Freeman said. &uot;I’m hoping we won’t lose power.&uot;

Lenora Turner had just gone back home to New Orleans but turned right around and came back to stay with family in Natchez.

Now she’s worried this town will be hard hit, too.

&uot;I was running away from the storm,&uot; she said. &uot;From the way it looks we’ll get some of it.&uot;

Turner was buying necessities of another sort Friday &045;&045; soft things to sleep on.

Lake Charles, La., resident Amy Bertrand headed to Natchez Friday to seek cover, but found little.

&uot;We are going to ride it out in our truck at the Visitor’s Center,&uot; she said. &uot;We have a four-car caravan.&uot;