Gustav blustered through Warren County Monday afternoon causing little wind damage, but was followed by bands of heavy rain measuring more than 4 inches through the night.

The greatly weakened storm was still spinning off vortexes that resulted in tornado warnings that could continue, with more rain, into tonight.

Schools, closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday, remained closed this morning, mostly due to power outages. Dr. James Price, superintendent of the public system, said conditions would be monitored “minute by minute” before making a decision on whether to resume classes Wednesday.

Although 4.05 inches was recorded at the National Weather Service gauge at the Vicksburg Water Treatment Plant from 8 a.m. Monday until 8 this morning, most area streams remained in their banks. There were no reports of flash flooding or blocked streets, although both remained a possibility.

One thing the storm will not interrupt is budget approval sessions set by city and county governments for today. Warren County supervisors are expected to OK a $15.7 million spending plan for 2008-09, to include a 3.05-mill increase in the tax rate. It will hike property tax bills by about $30 for every $100,000 in assessed value. Vicksburg officials have planned a $31.5 million budget with level funding for most city departments.

With highest sustained winds locally recorded at 40 mph, Gustav, downgraded to a tropical depression, knocked out power for 2,013 customers of Entergy, the county’s largest power supplier. Among venues without electrical service in Warren County were Beechwood Elementary, Warrenton Elementary, Warren Central High School and Hinds Community College. Hinds’ Vicksburg campus is closed today, but classes at its five other campuses were to be open. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District offices on East Clay Street was reported to be operating on generators.

Entergy personnel will begin repairing damage to the lines and reconnecting downed lines today before moving on to assist crews in Louisiana, spokesman Don Arnold said. Outages were scattered in the utility’s immediate service area, with 150 in Port Gibson and about 50 in southwest Hinds County.

More than 800,000 were without power in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, Arnold said, adding it is the second-highest number of outages for the company following a storm. About 1.1 million customers lost power following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Warren County road crews were checking roads for storm debris and trees, road manager Richard Winans said, as were city crews, said Mayor Laurence Leyens. Flooding was reported at Paxton Road and Mississippi 27, a frequent trouble spot.

In Claiborne County, Sheriff Frank Davis said, “We have lots of trees down, and lots of rain.  We’ve had reports of several cars running into trees.” He said he had no information about possible injuries. “We have responded and then moved on to the next call.”

“So far we’ve dodged a bullet,” said Chief Deputy Sammie Byrd in Madison Parish. “We’ve had heavy rain but no flooding, a few trees down but no homes damaged, as far as we know.”

Tensas Parish reported “some trees and wires down,” with prompt clearing and clean up, and no major problems.

Sharkey and Issaquena counties and East Carroll Parish reported no storm damage.

RAIN WIND SHELTER POWER AID 4.05 inches

24 hours ending at 8 a.m. at Vicksburg Water Treatment Plant

40 mph

Maximum sustained recorded locally

700 people

in Warren and Issaquena

2,013

out in Warren County

Entergy: 1-800-368-3749

SHELTER: 601-801-3443

FIND EVACUEES: www.disastersafe.redcross.org

ROAD CONDITIONS

Mississippi: 1-866-521-6368

Louisiana: 1-800-469-4828