NATCHEZ &8212; Despite anything Mother Nature may throw on Natchez this hurricane season, Adams County officials feel they are ready.

Officials from all departments met Wednesday morning to go over current emergency plans in an effort to make sure all the right people will be in the right places.

Hurricane season begins June 1 running through the end of November and hurricane forecasts are predicting an active season.

Forecasters are projecting that 17 named storms will occur in 2006. Nine of them are projected to be hurricanes including five that will be classified as major.

&8220;There were some things I felt like we needed talk about to be prepared for this hurricane season,&8221; Natchez-Adams County Civil Defense Director George Souderes said. &8220;The plan we have is workable, always has been and always will be until we revise it.&8221;

The current plan for responding to citizens needs in the event of a disaster has been in place for 10 years, Souderes said.

One issue of the meeting included the contact location to report emergencies requiring response.

&8220;When we have a happening, this office (emergency operations office) needs to know what is going on out there,&8221; Souderes said. &8220;Our office is a direct link to the governors office, where we can get a lot of help.&8221;

The topics in the meeting ranged from hospital and ambulance response to where goods are to be stored in the event of a disaster.

Members from the Red Cross also brought issues to the meeting for the upcoming season.

&8220;We have eight shelters at this point and need volunteers in any areas,&8221; Red Cross volunteer and committee member Angie Brown said. &8220;You don&8217;t know what&8217;s going to happen until it gets here and we want to be prepared so we can keep our good reputation.&8221;

Souderes has been the director for over 28 years and when asked if he thought the county was prepared he said, &8220;In my opinion, yes, we are ready.&8221;

A Natchez-Adams County Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Co-Lin. The exercise, to further preparedness for Adams County, will include a lunch and is geared to help people in the event of a health emergency.