NATCHEZ — Stan Owens is feeling much better about Hurricane Gustav.

Not that the threat has dissipated, but now Owens, Adams County EMA director, knows local leaders and county and city officials are ready for what may come.

In a civil defense meeting Friday morning, Owens was briefed by approximately 50 or 60 people.

Entergy Customer Service Manager Stephen Caruthers said Monday is no longer a holiday at Entergy.

“All our guys are available,” he said.

If anything were to happen to power, he assured it would be handled quickly.

“We will restore power as quickly and as safely as we can,” Caruthers said.

Public Works Director Eric Smith said emergency fuel has been ordered and his crews are ready to clear roadways if necessary.

“All our crews will be on call as of midnight Sunday,” Smith said.

Angie Brown, chapter manager for the Adams County chapter of Red Cross, said all of the shelters are on standby.

Owens said the tentative plan is to open the first shelter — Parkway Baptist Church — 24 hours before landfall, which is expected either Monday night or Tuesday night.

He said that is subject to change, however.

Marsha Colson, executive director of the United Way said her agency is in charge of dispersing volunteers and are looking for more.

Brown said there will be a shelter operations class today at 9 a.m. to train volunteers.

She said volunteers will be trained in all aspects of setting up and running a shelter.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the class, a lot of phone calls,” she said.

The class will be at the firing range on Foster Mound Road.

Vice President and General Manager of the Isle of Capri Tony Scudiero said if his casino closes because of weather, he’ll send his employees out to shelters to help.

Natchez Regional Medical Center representatives shared with the crowd that they have been preparing extra beds and ordering extra supplies.

Natchez Community Hospital CEO Tim Trottier said his hospital is ready and can run on a backup generator for up to seven days.

Sheriff Ronny Brown and Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said both law enforcement agencies will be working together.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors declared the county a state of emergency.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said when Gov. Haley Barbour declared Mississippi a state of emergency, it empowered local officials to take security steps outside the realm of normal duties.

“It widens the parameters in what we can do,” he said.

Officials are allowed to enter private property to help anyone in duress. The sheriff has authority to declare a mandatory evacuation for those in unsafe dwellings and to set a curfew.

“The overall mission is to be able to help people if we’re impacted by the storm,” Grennell said.

And there will be an impact, said Meteorologist Christopher Bannan with the National Weather Service in Jackson.

He said if Hurricane Gustav continues on its projected path, Adams County will see strong winds and heavy rainfall.

“The center of the storm won’t be too far from Adams County,” he said.

Sustained winds will move between 35 and 50 miles per hour with gusts possibly reaching 70 miles per hour at times.

Bannan said with the current projected path, the county will be in the northeast quadrant of the storm, which will bring strong winds.

“Adams County is at the greater risk of seeing strong damaging winds and gusts that may approach hurricane force at times,” he said.

He said tornados are a large threat, as well.

Owens said in preparation for strong winds and tornados, residents should pick up lawn furniture and other items outdoors, like propane tanks.

“Simple items like that can become missiles,” he said.

In case of a tornado, he said the center of a home is the safest place. Outdoors, low lying ditches are the best place to be.

He also said to stay away from plumbing.

“Lightning strikes have been known to go through plumbing pipes,” he said.