The The torrential rains predicted as Gustav moved through Northwest Louisiana didn't happen. It ran out of steam. The worst weather was to the east.

Alexandria got eight inches of rain Monday night as the remnants of Hurricane Gustav moved through. But the storm lost much of its punch as it got to Northwest Louisiana.

The 12- to 20 inches of rain and the possible flooding that weather forecasters originally predicted did not happen.

A couple of inches fell in Shreveport. Mike Strong, director of the city's public works department, said Shreveport "dodged a bullet."

The wind had died down this afternoon. Forecasters said there will be light to moderate rain through tonight. It should lessen on Wednesday and be out of the area by the weekend.

As of this afternoon, two inches of rain had fallen at Shreveport Regional Airport. Other parts of the city got between two and three inches.

The highest wind recorded in Shreveport was 41 mph. There had been forecasts winds gusts could be up to 70 mph.

Eastern parts of the area got rougher weather: Ruston recorded five inches of rain; Natchitoches got three inches of rain and top wind gusts of 47 mph. Tornadoes were reported in Mississippi.

The city of Shreveport had more than 100 employees from the streets, sewage and traffic engineering departments on duty at midnight to handle problems. They didn't have much to do.

Twenty-two trees or large limbs fell and the front of a brick building shell fell on Texas Avenue, crews said.

The city opened the spillway at Cross Lake as a flood-control measure. The last gates were being closed this afternoon, Director of Operational Services Mike Strong said.