Emergency managers in South Mississippi used last week’s tropical depression to test their hurricane plans.

On Monday, officials agreed that while they are grateful the area did not get the downpours and wind predicted, they did get to use their post-Hurricane Katrina transportation, evacuation and shelter plans.

“It was a very valuable experience for all the responders and the volunteer agencies,” said Rupert Lacy, deputy director of the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency. “This is not something you can simulate, and everyone clicked together.”

Since Katrina, Jackson County has instituted a pet shelter, a special needs shelter and county transportation, said the county’s emergency manager Butch Loper.

Loper said everything went smoothly.

“Basically, we know at the local level that we have the resources in place,” he said. “I’m grateful we had a dud to practice on.”

Forecasters called for Tropical Depression 10 to come ashore sometime Saturday between Pensacola and New Orleans. Several models showed the system coming ashore in Biloxi.

Tropical Depression 10 came ashore Friday night at Fort Walton Beach, Fla.