NATCHEZ — Residents that heeded warnings from Tropical Storm Isaac Wednesday didn’t need much excuse to get out of the house after waking up to little rain and no damage.

So when the slow moving system was just reaching the Baton Rouge area, Carol and Smokye Joe Frank decided they had just enough time to sip some coffee and catch up on light reading before conditions worsened in Natchez.

“He asked if I wanted to get some coffee, and we figured we’d get out of the house now while we could,” Carol said. “We have everything ready and prepared for this storm, so we didn’t have to sit around worrying.

“I think the big difference with this storm is that everybody seems to be well prepared.”

And Carol said he wanted to let Smokye Joe get one more fix in before the roads became too bad to maneuver — even though the storm probably wouldn’t affect his determination to get behind the wheel.

“If he can drive, he’ll be on the road,” Carol said.

“I’m perfectly content being at home as long as I have power, but if the power does go out I’ll find something to do.”

But a power outage doesn’t compare to what the couple’s son, Brandon, would be experiencing at his house in New Orleans — had he not left town on business.

“Luckily he was in California because of his job when the storm started to come through, but now he’s in Houston in limbo,” Carol said. “Everything is shutdown, so he’s staying there and getting some work done until the weather gets better.

“His car is in Metairie, and I’m worried it’s going to wash away but he’s not worried about it at all.”