A United States flag lies in bushes after falling from its post in front of the Doughboy Monument in downtown Meridian, Miss., Sept. 16, 2004. Much of the city of Meridian was without power.
City of Gulfport Firemen battle a house fire in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 16, 2004, during landfall of Hurricane Ivan. The fire was caused by a tree branch falling on a power line, which started a fire in the attic of the home. It was the second trip to the home in one night for the firemen.
Gulfport firefighters battle a residential fire in Gulfport, Miss., early Sept. 16, 2004.
City of Gulfport firemen work with a Gulfport policeman, right, to clear a downed tree from an intersection in Gulfport, Miss., early morning Sept. 16, 2004, during landfall of Hurricane Ivan.
A handwritten sign spells out a resident's sentiments regarding Hurricane Ivan, Sept. 15, 2004, in Gulfport, Miss.
Charlie Floyd, right, owner of Azalea Bagels, and his nephew, Isaac Simmons, rush to move a mixer and display table in the store's freezer, Sept. 15, 2004, in Gulfport, Miss. Floyd, who opened the store three months ago, baked several hundred bagels for customers, emergency personal and evacuees in the city's storm shelters.
Gulf Coast residents fleeing Hurricane Ivan line a hallway at Vancleave High School, Sept. 15, 2004, in Vancleave, Miss.
Residents wait in line for shelter space at Vancleave High School in Vancleave, Miss., Sept. 15, 2004.
Willo Edwards, from Panama City, Fla., Lucy Duncan, from Long Beach, Miss., Gladys St. Amant, from Long Beach, Miss., and A.B. Edwards from Panama City, Fla., pass time playing cards while waiting for Hurricane Ivan at the American Red Cross shelter in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sept. 15, 2004.
Sandra Motsco and her 9-year-old son, Jake, feed his pony, Freckles, at the Mississippi Horse Park near Starkville, Miss., Sept. 15, 2004. The horse park has opened its 265 available stalls to animal owners fleeing Ivan's path. The Motscos made two trips from their farm near Pace, Fla., to get as many animals as possible to safety.
Southern Pines Humane Society employee Jarrod Warren carries a pregnant stray dog to a pen within the safe confines of the building and out of reach of approaching Hurricane Ivan, in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sept. 15, 2004.
Mel Broadus works to secure a bedroom window on his beachfront home in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 15, 2004, while his neighbor's two blowup dolls, Jean, left, and Ivan, right, fly in the gusting winds. His neighbor decided to put the dolls, named for the two big storms bearing down on the U.S., up for fun during a quick break from securing his own property.
James Parks, left, secures plywood while his wife, Donna, touches up the art in anticipation of Hurricane Ivan Sept. 14, 2004, at their home in Gulfport, Miss.
Boat captains seeking safer waters line a canal off Back Bay in Biloxi, Miss., Sept, 14, 2004, in anticipation of the arrival Hurricane Ivan.
State regulators ordered the 12 coast casinos to close to patrons at noon Sept. 14, 2004, including the Copa Casino in Gulfport, Miss., which notified patrons on its oversized electronic billboard. Casino workers were to finish securing and closing the properties by midnight as Hurricane Ivan approaches the area.
Northbound traffic on Highway 49 south of Florence, Miss., is backed up for miles Sept. 14, 2004, as people flee Hurricane Ivan.
Jim Peresich hauls pressboard into place at his business, Sept. 14, 2004, in Gulfport, Miss., as he tries to secure the plate glass windows from the expected winds from Hurricane Ivan. The storm is expected to hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.