They came to Laurel not knowing where they’d end up or even where they would sleep. Traffic was miserable, cars were loaded with people and belongings, and worry of homes left behind clouded any sense of peace. For miles they drove — passing through towns such as Picayune and Slidell because they weren’t far enough from Gustav’s path to be safe, and then passing through places like Hattiesburg because no shelters were open.

Fewer than 100 people and eight animals remain sheltered in Laurel Wednesday. At the peak, about 1000 evacuees and 60 animals were seeking assistance at the Magnolia Center and the Cameron Center.

Bailey Robinson, Jalexus Robinson, Shannon Robinson, Lucertia Robinson, Garrick Isidore, Danielle Tate, and Shameka Robinson were some of the people packing up their vehicles to leave Laurel for the New Orleans or Houma, La. areas. They spent one last night in Laurel Wednesday, just so they would be sure they could get home Thursday.

About 40 family members and friends traveled together.

“They were real helpful,” Lucertia Robinson said of the American Red Cross Pine Belt Chapter volunteers and staff. “They took us in.”

Jalexus Robinson said the experience wasn’t bad, even though it “just isn’t home.”

“It’s cool. There wasn’t any drama. It ain’t nothing like that. We’re just ready to get home,” she said.

Shameka Robinson, of Houma and formerly of New Orleans, said she is no stranger to running from hurricanes. But, the outcome of Gustav has been better than that of Katrina.

“This is our second time going through this,” she said. “Fortunately this time we didn’t lose anything. It was a little bit frightening. We didn’t know if we would have anything to go home to. We got word things are okay. Our houses are still there.”

“We’re just anxious to get back home,” Tate said.

“It’s been a journey,” Shameka Robinson said. Our stay here was pleasant. We have no complaints. They opened their doors to us and we appreciate it.”

Peggy Owens-Mansfield, director of the American Red Cross Pine Belt Chapter, praised the nearly 500 volunteers for helping so many people during the Hurricane Gustav threat.

“It’s just a monumental task,” Owens-Mansfield said. “All of our volunteers have been exceptional from our nurses to our teenagers to our adult volunteers.”

The need for shelter is quickly diminishing as people return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and to South Louisiana as quickly as they arrived.

“We are about to clear out the shelters,” she said. “We feel like since they are opening New Orleans the Magnolia Center will empty out.”

Besides the fewer than 100 at the Magnolia Center, there were about 30 people still at a shelter in Raleigh. She said anyone remaining will be consolidated with other evacuees at another shelter.

Owens-Mansfield said volunteers and Red Cross staff are working to clear out the buildings used as shelters because other events are planned. However, they are prepared for the next threat.

“We kind of have to pick stuff up and put it away, but we have already been put on standby,” she said. “We’re going to stand down for a while, knowing we may have to stand back up.”

Owens-Mansfield also expressed appreciation to corporate donors, including Sanderson Farms, Howard Industries, and Jarden Consumer Solutions.

Many people leaving the Magnolia Center praised local efforts for assistance, but Owens-Mansfield also reminded people to help the American Red Cross whenever possible. She said the local chapter spent a great deal to help the evacuees.

“The problem was no shelter opened up south of us,” she said. “We spent a bunch of money. Everything we have done somebody somewhere is paying for it.”

Owens-Mansfield said disaster services funds from the national chapter pay for the type of assistance provided recently. She cautioned people to remember that Hurricane Hanna is forecasted to impact the East Coast, requiring assistance from the same funds. There are also two more storms in the Atlantic Ocean with one of them — Hurricane Ike — forecasted to possibly enter the Gulf of Mexico next week.