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Galey said trees already weakened from Hurricane Katrina were more susceptible to falling. Those contributed to power outages throughout the area.
"With the wind and the rain, we've had trees down on lines all day long," said Lucy Shell, member services director for Magnolia Electric Power Association.
Shell also reported some instances of broken utility poles. At the highest point around noon Saturday, she said approximately 4,000 members were without power.
Around 6 p.m. Saturday, Shell said 2,000 members remained power across the EPA's service area. After working until midnight Friday to restore power of members, crews resumed work this morning and were continuing restoration efforts, she said.
Shell said customers may report outages by calling 601-833-7011 or 601-684-4011. Lines are being manned 24 hours a day.
Kenny Goza, customer accounts manager for Entergy, said as many at 700 Lincoln County customers were without power at one point Saturday.
"It's just been scattered all day long," Goza said. "McComb was hit more than we were."
Goza said power was gradually coming back on.
"We're trying to work them as quickly as we can," Goza said.
Wesson Police Office Chad Sills said the town had some limbs down.
"Other than that, we didn't have any problems," Sills said.
Being on the eastern side of the hurricane, tornadoes have been a prime concern for emergency management officials. After several tornado warnings during the day, Galey said Lincoln County and much of the state remained under a tornado watch into the night Saturday.
"We've had tornadoes popping up all over the state," said Galey, although he reported none in Lincoln County.
In other hurricane-related happenings, the population at local American Red Cross shelters swelled as Louisiana and Texas residents fled the storm.
Galey said the shelter at Macedonia Baptist Church opened Friday and over 625 residents were staying at five shelters late Saturday. The total had been around 700 earlier in the day.
"We had a few that left," Galey said.
In comparison, four shelters Thursday were housing around 250 people who remained after coming to Brookhaven due to Hurricane Katrina.
Galey said motels and area campgrounds were also full.
"I've seen campers sitting all over town," he said.
Galey said the weekend had gone "pretty smooth" so far, but he warned of more potential threats Sunday. He said some forecasts predict Rita will continue to around Little Rock, Ark., and then turn eastward.
"We could be under the gun like this again all day tomorrow," Galey said.
In Lawrence County, Assistant Fire Chief Hugh Summers said no major damage was reported Saturday. The only reports received by the civil defense office were of downed trees that "probably didn't quite get taken down by Katrina."
