Gulf Coast residents who spent the weekend in Vicksburg to escape Hurricane Dennis will be making their way back home today.

In Warren County, the fearsome storm that faded was preceded by rain and thunderstorms here that left 1,300 customers without power for varying periods Saturday and Sunday, said Don Arnold, customer service manager for Entergy.

“By lunch Sunday, power was back on,” he said.

The same thunderstorms knocked out power to the whole city of Port Gibson around 8 p.m. Saturday, but power was restored in an hour.

“Some people already left to go back,” said John Black, a Red Cross volunteer at First Baptist Church, late Sunday after the first of about three dozen who sought public shelters here headed for their homes.

First Baptist was one of four local churches ready for evacuees in case numbers approached those from last year when more than 500 were housed during Ivan.

Beverly Connelly, director of the Vicksburg Area chapter of the American Red Cross, said this morning that 34 people stayed in Vicksburg and the sheltering operation was consolidated to the First Baptist location.

“They were served breakfast this morning and we’ll be shutting down this afternoon,” she said.

There’s no tally of the people who left coastal areas who stayed in motels or in the homes of friends or relatives. The shelters were ratcheted up after midweek when motels reported rooms being reserved at rapid rates.

“We’ll keep the supplies that were donated at the shelter through October – through the hurricane season,” she said.

Although fewer than expected came, Black said the outpouring in the community was overwhelming.

“People have been calling to volunteer, donating items – saying ‘Whatever I can do,'” he said. “When we do something like this – it’s astounding and very heartwarming. The community really answered the call.”

Connelly said Ivan helped prepare the Red Cross and the community for refugees.

“Even though we didn’t have that many, we were ready,” Connelly said. “I think last year was a good opportunity to see how we can do this. I want to thank everyone.”

Most people escaping Dennis are thought to have traveled U.S. 65 to Montgomery, Ala., and along Interstate 10 West, Connelly said.

“Across the state, sheltering was limited, too,” she added.

Erica Bowden of Grand Bay, Ala., arrived at the First Baptist shelter with her family late Saturday and by Sunday said she felt like she was in a five-star hotel.

This was the first time she and her family have stayed in Vicksburg. When they escaped Ivan, they went to Jackson, Ala. This time, they were unsure of where they would go after they got word of the mandatory evacuation for their county.

“We were undecided – we decided at about 1:30 and decided to come here,” Bowden said.

Her father-in-law, Harvie Hunt, who also stayed at the shelter, said they heard from his brother, Elmore Kemp, who stayed at the shelter with his wife during Ivan. They also came back for Dennis.

Renee Clark and her family and pets, all from Mobile, also returned to the shelter after Ivan. They arrived around 9:30 Saturday and planned to head home this afternoon.

Clark said during their stay everyone rested. Last year they had a chance to tour downtown Vicksburg, but after 8 1/2 hours of driving and getting caught in three thunderstorms, they were tired.

“The drive was enough – we just relaxed,” she said. “We took in the sights last time.”

Annie Mitchell, director of public relations at Ameristar Casino, said, although Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos were closed, there was no noticeable increase in activity at the Vicksburg casino.

“The hotel was filled to capacity and there were more people in the restaurant, but there was no real measurable impact,” she said.

Becky King, the bookkeeper at Battlefield Inn, 4137 Interstate 20 Frontage Road, said the motel was full Friday and Saturday with Gulf Coast evacuees.

“Most people will be leaving today,” she said.

Vicksburg has 1,600 commercial hotel and motel rooms and several dozen rooms in bed-and-breakfast inns.