Looking back in order to look forward was the focus of about 30 people who gathered Wednesday to analyze what worked in the local response to Hurricane Katrina and what needs improvement.

Hosted by the United Way of West Central Mississippi, the hourlong seminar focused initially on coordination among local nonprofits in directing people in need to available resources.

&#8220I know my life hasn’t been the same since,” said United Way executive director Barbara Tolliver, who said the organization still receives occasional visits from evacuees needing assistance in the aftermath of the Aug. 29 disaster.

The group, most of whom worked in local relief efforts, was asked to record suggestions on slips of paper, noting what they thought worked and then to put them on a bulletin board. They were then read aloud.

Among those responses were the efficiency of volunteers at churches that opened their doors as shelters in the days and weeks following the storm, as well as those who offered services at the Vicksburg Convention Center such as housing advice to evacuees.

Three churches and the convention center served as shelters for Katrina evacuees until the convention center ceased its shelter operation at the end of September. At its peak, the number of evacuees taken in for Katrina reached about 1,100.

One volunteer, Bill Athow of Hawkins United Methodist Church, said even though he found sheltering to become more efficient when evacuees of Hurricane Rita arrived three weeks later, he expressed doubt as to whether the volunteer force in the community could be duplicated for another major storm.

Sheriff Martin Pace lauded the work of county employees, particularly with the road department and some sheriff’s deputies, who helped cut through trees and other debris to get county roads passable again within 12 hours.

Responses given for what needed improvement were convention center facilities as a shelter, placing signs along roadways leading into the city showing where shelters are, and creating flow charts for nonprofits that would help them direct evacuees to services.

&#8220Sometimes it seemed each entity had its own scenario,” said the Rev. Chan de Anaya, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Despite the ideas that seemed to suggest more extensive planning, a few officials indicated that disaster planning on the fly is a better way to go.

&#8220Plans have to be tweaked and shuffled, because I can assure you that people on the coast had a plan, too, but they never saw a Katrina,” said Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett, police chief in Biloxi for 11 years before being hired here.

Moffett also advised caution with using directional signs for shelters because of the speed at which they filled up during the height of the evacuation.

A similar event is planned for May 16 at River Region Medical Center’s main campus on U.S. 61 North, associate administrator Kevin Cook said.

The most likely period for hurricane activity starts June 1. Forecasters have said there has been little overall environmental change, meaning the 2006 season could mirror 2005. One prediction is for 17 named storms, with five developing into severe hurricanes.