NATCHEZ &045; Advance preparation helped make sure infrastructure held up and debris was cleared efficiently when storms related to Hurricane Katrina hit Natchez, city public works and engineering personnel said earlier this week.

Like its county counterpart, the Adams County Water Association, Natchez Waterworks had enough generators and diesel fuel to power its water wells when the storm knocked out power to the area.

&uot;We have enough generators to operate four wells and the plant itself, and we had gotten an extra supply of diesel fuel just in case we needed it,&uot; said David Gardner, city engineer and waterworks superintendent. &uot;We also made sure we were listed with the fuel supply people as a priority.&uot;

Such actions, he said, are part of the city’s existing emergency preparedness plan.

And if Gardner isn’t at the plant but is somewhere else with power, he can access the latest information on the plant’s operations via the Internet. &uot;That helps us anticipate before there’s a problem,&uot; Gardner said.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Division worked overtime before the storm to make equipment was maintained and fueled so that debris clearing could begin as efficiently as possible after the storm.

Crews from both Public Works and the Waterworks worked overtime and nights to clear debris, and some were reluctant to go home.

In fact Ronnie Ivey, director of operations for Public Works, said one of his next tasks is to see that division has enough space, cots and the like for his workers to nap there should another severe storm occur.

As far as preparing for the future is concerned, Gardner said city officials continue to lobby for funding for improvements to the drainage system that serves much of north and downtown Natchez.

Plans are, with the necessary funding, to shore up the main drainage canal &045; an aging brick archway under Canal Street &045; as well as replace some of the drainage lines feeding runoff water to it.

Otherwise, city officials say, the archway could collapse following major rainfall &045; as has already happened in recent years in front of the Canal Street post office, on a smaller scale.

But to totally prevent such sinkholes if a Category 4 or 5 hurricane hit Natchez straight on, the city would have to completely overhaul its drainage system to handle a 25- or 50-year event, Gardner said &045; unlikely given limited funds. &uot;And you won’t find many (cities) in the U.S. that have a system like that,&uot; he said.

Yet overall, city officials said Natchez was well-prepared for Katrina and is also prepared for future storms to come.

&uot;Everybody has done a tremendous job,&uot; Mayor Phillip West said during Tuesday’s aldermen meeting.