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.”